IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


4r 


1.0 


1.1 


S  Hi  ^ 
£  m   12.0 


11.25  III  1.4 


%» 


.** 


Hiotogra{iiic 

Sciences 

Cdrporalion 


23  WIST  MAIN  STRHT 

WnSTIR,N.Y.  14StO 

(71«)«72-4S03 


} 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/iCIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Inttituta  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microraproductions  historiquat 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notos  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha 
tot 


Tha  Instituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  avaiiabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua. 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  In  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aigniflcantiy  changa 
tha  uauai  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chaclcad  balow. 


□   Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I   Covara  damagad/ 


D 


D 


D 


Couvartura  andommagte 


Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raataurAa  at/ou  paliiculAa 


pn   Covar  titia  miaaing/ 


La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 


Colourad  mapa/ 

Cartaa  giographiquaa  tt  coulaur 


□   Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 

r*n   Colourad  plataa  and/or  illuatrationa/ 


D 


Planchaa  at/ou  illuatrationa  an  coulaur 


Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
Ralii  avac  d'autraa  documanta 


Tight  binding  may  cauaa  shadowa  or  diatortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

Laroiiura  aarria  paut  cauaar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
diatoraion  la  long  da  la  marga  IntAriaura 

Blank  laavaa  addad  during  raatoration  may 
appaar  within  tha  taxt.  Whanavar  poaaibla.  thaaa 
hava  baan  omittad  from  filming/ 
II  aa  paut  qua  cartainaa  pagaa  blanchaa  ajoutiaa 
lora  d'una  raatauration  apparaiaaant  dana  la  taxta. 
maia.  loraqua  cala  Atait  poaaibla,  caa  pagaa  n'ont 
paa  «ti  filmiaa. 

Additional  commanta:/ 
Commantairaa  supplAmantairaa: 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilmi  la  maillaur  axamplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  4t*  poaaibla  da  aa  procurer.  Laa  ditaila 
da  cat  axamplaira  qui  aont  paut-Atra  uniquaa  du 
point  da  vua  bibliographiqua.  qui  pauvant  modif  iar 
una  imaga  raproduita,  ou  qui  pauvant  axigar  una 
modification  dana  la  mAthoda  normala  da  filmaga 
aont  indiqufo  ci-daaaoua. 


pn  Colourad  pagaa/ 


D 


Pagaa  da  coulaur 

Pagaa  damagad/ 
Pagaa  andommagiaa 

Pagaa  raatorad  and/oi 

Pagaa  raataurAaa  at/ou  palliculAaa 

Pagaa  diacolourad.  atainad  or  foxa« 
Pagaa  dAcoior^aa.  tachatiaa  ou  piqutea 

Pagaa  datachad/ 
Pagaa  ditachiaa 

Showthrough/ 
Tranaparanca 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  inigaia  da  I'impraaaion 

Includaa  aupplamantary  matarii 
Comprand  du  material  aupplAmantaira 

Only  adition  avaiiabia/ 
Saula  Mition  diaponibia 


r~n  Pagaa  damagad/ 

r~n  Pagaa  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 

0  Pagaa  diacolourad.  atainad  or  foxad/ 
Pagaa 

I     I  Pagaa  datachad/ 

r^  Showthrough/ 

nn  Quality  of  print  variaa/ 

r~*1  Includaa  aupplamantary  material/ 

rn  Only  adition  available/ 


Pagaa  wholly  or  partially  obacurad  by  errata 
alipa.  tiaauaa.  etc..  have  been  ref limed  to 
enajre  the  beat  poaaibla  image/ 
Lea  pagea  totalement  ou  partiallement 
obacurciea  par  un  fauillet  d'errata.  una  peiure, 
etc..  ont  M  filmAea  A  nouveau  da  fa^on  A 
obtanir  la  mailleure  image  poaaibla. 


Thi 
poi 
ofl 
filnr 


Orii 
bafl 
tha 
aioi 
oth 
fira 
aioi 
or  I 


The 
aha 
Tin 
wh 

Ma 
difl 
ant 
ba( 
rigl 
req 
me 


Thia  item  ia  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  eat  filmi  au  taux  da  reduction  indiquA  ci-deaaoua. 


10X 

14X 

lax 

22X 

26X 

30X 

.y 

1 

12X 


16X 


20X 


a4X 


2BX 


32X 


Th«  oopy  f  ilmad  hart  has  bMn  r«produc«d  thanks 
to  th*  ganarosity  of: 


L'axamplaira  f ilmA  fut  raproduit  grica  A  la 
ginArositi  da: 


UnivwihidtMontitel 


UnlvmR«d«Mofitr«al 


Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
potsibia  eontidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibillty 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copiaa  In  printad  papar  covara  ara  flimad 
baglnning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  lilustratad  impras- 
•ion,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  approprlata.  All 
othar  original  copies  ara  flimad  baglnning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  lilustratad  Impraa- 
slon,  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  lilustratad  imprassion. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  on  aach  microficha 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  -^^  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  Y  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  applias. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  ate,  may  ba  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  In  one  exposure  ara  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  Images  suivantas  ont  4t*  raproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattet*  de  I'exempleire  filmi,  et  en 
conformity  avac  les  conditions  du  contrat  da 
fllmaga. 

Lee  exemplalres  origlnaux  dont  la  couvarture  en 
papier  est  imprlmie  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  an  termlnant  salt  par  ia 
darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  emprelnte 
d'impression  ou  d'lllustration,  ioft  par  ia  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  las  autres  exemplalres 
origlnaux  sont  filmto  an  commanpant  par  ia 
pramlAre  paga  qui  comporte  une  emprelnte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustretion  et  en  termlnant  par 
la  darnlAre  paga  qui  comporte  une  telle 
emprelnte. 

Un  dee  symboles  suh/ants  apparaltra  sur  la 
darnlAre  Image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  la  symbde  — ►  signlfie  "A  8UIVRE",  le 
symbols  ▼  signlfis  "FIN". 

Lss  cartes,  planches,  tableeux,  etc..  peuvent  Atre 
fllmto  A  dee  taux  de  rMuction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cllchi.  11  est  f llmA  A  pertir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  geuche  h  drolte. 
et  de  heut  en  bes.  en  prenant  la  nombra 
d'images  nteesssire.  Les  diegrammes  suivants 
lllustrent  le  mMhode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

i.  i 


Uniyersite  be  Montreal 

biblioth£que 


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VALUABLE  MISCELLANEOUS  BOOKS 

BECENTLT  FUBLISHED   Bl^ 

LITTLE,    BROWN    &    CO. 

112  Wabhutciton  Stbket,  Bobtox. 


PROSPECTUS 

OP  A  NEW  EDITION  OF   THE    ENGLISH   POETS,   NOW  IN 
COURSE   OF  PUBLICATION. 


EDITED  BY  F.  J.  CHILD, 

Boylston  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  Oratory  in  Harvard  College. 


The  only  Collection  of  the  English  Poets,  at  all  deserving 
the  name  of  Complete,  is  that  which  was  edited  by  Alexan- 
der Chalmers  about  forty  years  ago.  This  edition  was  in 
twenty-one  ponderous  octavos,  and  is  now  out  of  print.  It 
was  not  intended,  and  for  many  reasons  it  is  not  adapted,  for 
general  reading.  As  a  sort  of  Thesaurus,  or  Body  of  Eng- 
lish Poetry,  Chalmers'  collection  will  always  be  useful  to  the 
student,  for  the  very  reason  that  it  contains  a  vast  amount  of 
forgotten  literature  that  cannot  be  found  elsewhere.  But,  if 
this  edition  embraces  more  of  the  obsolete  and  worthless  poe- 
try than  the  common  reader  desires,  it  is  very  scantily  sup- 
plied with  those  historical  and  literary  illustrations  which 
almost  every  reader  needs,  while  it  omits  a  considerable 
amount  of  really  excellent  poetry.  The  same  is  true,  in  a 
still  higher  degree,  of  the  earlier  collections  of  the  English 
Poets. 

The  edition  now  proposed  will  differ  from  previous  collec- 
tions in  several  important  particulars.  It  will  embrace  all 
that  is  of  general  interest  and  permanent  value  in  English 
Poetry,  from  Chaucer  to  Wordsworth.    The  whole  works  of 


2 


the  most  distinguished  authors  irill  be  given,  and  selections 
from  the  nvritings  of  the  minor  poets.  Several  volumes  of 
fugitive  and  anonymous  poetry  will  be  added,  besides  what 
may  be  taken  from  the  publications  of  Ritson,  Percy,  Ellis, 
Brydges,  Park,  &c.,  of  the  Percy  Society,  and  other  Printing 
Clubs.  Particular  care  will  be  bestowed  on  Chaucer,  and  on 
the  English  and  Scotch  Ballad  Poetry.  Pains  will  be  taken 
to  secure  a  correct  text ;  and  each  work  will  be  accompanied 
with  biographical,  historical,  and  critical  notices,  and  with 
glossaries  where  such  assistance  is  needed.  —  An  edition 
conducted  on  these  principles  will,  it  is  thought,  deserve  to 
be  called,  in  all  essential  respects,  a  Complete  Collection  of 
the  English  Poets. 

It  is  intended  that  the  volumes  of  this  collection  shall  in- 
vite perusal,  as  well  by  their  form  and  appearance,  as  by  the 
character  of  their  contents.  The  size  and  the  style  of  the 
volumes  will  be  those  of  Pickering's  Aldine  Poets,  and  such 
of  the  works  of  that  edition  as  fall  entirely  within  the  plan 
of  the  present  collection,  will  be  embodied  in  it. 

Each  separate  work  is  sold  by  itself,  and  the  price  of  each 
volume  is  75  cents. 

The  following  volumes  are  now  ready :  — 


Butler 

2  Tola. 

MttTON     . 

.  8  vols 

GOIXINS  . 

.    1  vol. 

Parnell     . 

1  vol. 

GOWPKK        . 

8  vols. 

Pope 

.  8  vols. 

Dbyden  . 

.    5  rolg. 

Prior 

2  vols. 

Goldsmith  . 

1  vol. 

Thomson 

.  2  vols. 

Obat     . 

.    1  vol. 

SWIPT  . 

8  vols. 

YODNQ 

2  vols. 

Churchill 

.  8  vols. 

*'  We  can  only  repeat  that  which  we  have  so  often  already  had  occasion  to 
say  of  the  simplicity,  beanty,  and  typographical  excellence  of  this  edition. 
Convenient  in  size,  printed  on  clear,  white  paper,  with  distinct,  legible  type, 
these  volumes  must  be  a  luxury  to  all  who  desire  a  good  edition  of  the  British 
Poets.  It  is  by  far  the  best  edition  of  these  poets  that  has  ever  been  issued  in 
this  country ;  fully  equal  to  the  English,  of  which  they  are  an  exact  reprint, 
and  at  just  one  half  the  cost."  —  Boston  Atlas. 

"  We  cannot  too  warmly  commend  the  series  to  our  readers."  —  South  Lit. 
Chiz. 

"  The  typography  of  those  already  published  is  beautiful.  Few  English 
books  are  more  charming  to  the  eye.    This  enterprise  is  an  honor  to  the 

American  press We  do  not  know  any  other  edition  of  the  English 

Poets  which  combine  so  many  excellences."  —  Btbliotheca  Sacra. 

All  persons  whose  standard  of  home-comfort  embraces  more  than  one  dn- 
bookshelf  must  have  the  British  Poets  in  some  form  ;  and  they  may  be 


Bore  that  they  will  never  be  able  to  procure  them  in  a  more  convenient  and 
economical  form  than  that  which  these  volumes  wear."  —  Christian  Exam- 
iner. 

"  We  regard  this  as  the  most  beautiM  and  convenient  library  edition  of 
the  British  Poets  yet  published,  and  the  price  at  which  it  is  sold  places  it 
within  reach  of  every  reading  man."  —  N.  O.  Bulletin. 

"  Tliis  series  of  the  British  Poets  is  the  best  edition  we  have  ever  seen."  — 
Louisville  Journal. 

"  We  regard  it  as  the  most  beantifVil  and  convenient  library  edition  of  the 
British  Poets  yet  published."  —  PAt7.  Eve.  Bulletin 

"  We  have  before  alluded  to  this  excellent  publishing  enterprise,  in  terms 
of  hearty  commendation,  and  we  sincerely  hope  that  the  luxury  of  beautiM 
typography,  rivalling  the  best  London  editions,  will  not  fail  of  receiving  a 
general  appreciation  ftom  American  connoisseurs."  —  N.  Y.  Tribune. 

HUME'S  HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND.  From  the  latest 
London  trade  edition,  reprinted  on  large  type  to  corre- 
spond with  the  London  edition  of  Macaulay's  History.  6 
vols.  8vo,  cloth.    $9. 

"  A  finer  library  edition  of  the  great  historian  of  England,  we  have  never 
wen.    It  is  an  honor  to  American  typography."  —  N.  Y.  Commercial  Adv^r. 

"  These  volumes  are  honorable  to  the  taste,  enterprise,  and  liberality  of  its 
publishers,  and  creditable  to  the  country."  —  Boston  Atlas. 

MEMOIRS  AND  CORRESPONDENCE  OF  FRAN- 
CIS HORNER,  M.  P.  Edited  by  his  brother,  Leonard 
Horner,  Esq.,  F.  R.  S.     2  vols.  8vo,  cloth.    $4.50. 

"  The  Memoirs  of  Francis  Homer  furnish  one  of  the  most  entertaining  and 
instructive  biographies  ever  published."  —  Boston  Post. 

"  This  work  deserves  a  place  by  the  side  of  the  Life  of  Mackintosh,  in  every 
man's  library,  and  should  be  the  companion  of  every  young  man  who  claims 
to  be  an  intelligent  reader."  —  Boston  Atlas. 

"  The  two  elegant  and  beautifully  printed  volumes  before  us  are  chiefly  filled 
with  the  correspondence  of  this  distinguished  man  with  his  parents,  and  with 
all  the  great  literary  and  public  characters  of  the  period,  such  as  Lord  and 
Lady  Holland,  Sydney  Smith,  Lord  Jeffrey,  Henry  Hallam,  Earl  Grey,  Sir 
Samuel  Romilly,  Sir  James  Mactdntosh,  and  many  others,  whose  letters  testify 
to  the  general  admiration  of  the  English  world  for  Mr.  Uomer's  private  and 
public  character." — Philadelphia  Bulletin. 

"  These  noble  volumes  which  have  now  been  a  short  time  before  the  public, 
deserve  more  than  a  passing  notice.  They  contain  the  Memoirs  and  Corre- 
spondence  of  a  man,  who,  though  not '  unknown  to  fame '  in  his  day,  has  not 
been  world-renowned,  and  whose  name  will  never,  like  that  of  Wellington, 
Peel,  and  Webster,  be  in  the  mouths  of  the  million.  Still,  the  name  of  Francis 
Homer  is  one  which  the  cultivated  and  appreciating '  will  not  willingly  let  die.' 
He  was  a  choice  spirit,  and  the  choice  spirits  of  this  and  a  future  age,  will  be 
attracted  by  these  Memoirs.    .    . 

*'  Nor  will  the  lawyer  or  intelligent  politician  be  less  interested  in  these  vol- 
umes than  the  man  of  letters.  In  each  of  those  departments.  Homer  was  a 
model."  —  Boston  Traveller. 

MACKINTOSH'S  LIFE.     Memoirs  of  the  Life  of  the 
Right  Honorable  Sir  James  Mackintosh.    Edited  by  his 
Son,  Robert  James  Mackintosh.    From  the  second  Lon- 
don edition.    Portrait.     2  vols.  8vo,  cloth.    $4.50. 
"From  whatever  point  of  view  we  look  at  this  biography,  it  is  interesting 


and  valuablu.  We  cannot  but  hope  that  so  bcautiftil  an  edition  of  a  work  of 
such  permanent  value  will  be  (>xt(>ni*ively  circulated.  No  library,  public  or 
private,  can  be  complete  without  it."  —  Boston  Transcript. 

"  We  cordially  commend  it  an  one  of  the  best  woriu  of  the  aeason."  —  Boston 
Post. 

"  More  choice,  indeed,  than  the  EnKliHh  edition,  and  quite  worthy  of  a  book 
00  agreeable  and  popular."  —  Dnily  Advertiser. 

"  The  work  is  replete  with  int<»reHtlng  information,  compririnn  copious  de- 
tails with  regard  to  the  political  and  literary  liiDtory  of  the  times,  as  well  aa 
the  private  life  of  the  author.  Sir  ilanies  Maciiintosh  is  one  of  the  most  im- 
posing  names  of  the  lust  half  century,  although  he  has  left  no  production 
whicit  does  complete  justice  to  his  active  intellect  and  rare  attainments.  .  . 
He  will  be  known  to  ]H>sterity  chiefly  by  these  delightfiil  Memoirs,  which  show 
him  to  have  been  one  of  the  most  accomplished  of  philosophic  scholars  and 
statesmen,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  lovable  of  men."  —  Ntw  York  Tribune. 

ENCYCLOPiEDIA  BRITANNICA.  Eighth  edition,  re- 
vised, enlarged,  and  brought  up  to  the  present  time. 
Edited  by  Thomas  Stewart  Traill,  M.  D.,  F.  R,  S.  E., 
Professor  of  Medical  Jurisprudence  in  the  Univemty  of 
Edinburgh.  '  With  upwards  of  five  hundred  engravings  on 
steel,  and  many  thousands  on  wood.  To  be  comprised  in 
21  vols.  4to.  Vols.  I.  II.  and  III.  now  ready.  Cloth. 
$5.50  per  volume. 

This  edition  has  undergone  careful  revision  and  extensive 
alterations,  so  as  to  accommodate  it  to  the  improved  taste 
and  advanced  intelligence  of  the  times.  The  editor  has  se- 
cured the  cooperation  of  the  most  eminent  living  authors, 
who  have  contributed  treatises  in  the  various  departments  of 
Science,  Literature,  the  Arts,  Manufactures,  Commerce,  Sta- 
tistics, and  General  Knowledge,  to  supersede  those  now  ren- 
dered obsolete  by  the  progress  of  discovery,  improvements  in 
the  Arts,  or  the  general  advancement. of  society. 

"  The  publishers  of  this  great  work  arc  doing  a  most  valuable  service  to 
American  literature.  Tlie  cost  of  the  English  editions  of  the  Cyclopsedia  has 
been  so  great  as  to  pitt  it  beyond  the  possession  of  many  who  wanted  it,  and 
the  result  has  been  that  but  few  libraries,  out  of  public  institutions,  Iiave  it 
upon  their  shelves .  It  is  acknowledgedly  the  very  best  work  of  the  kind  extant, 
and  wherever  the  language  is  spoken  it  is  needed  for  reference.  So  copious 
and  so  reliable  are  its  stores  of  knowledge,  that  many  a  man,  passing  for  a  won- 
derfully erudite  scholar,  has  derived  from  it  all  he  knows  upon  the  subjects  it 
treats,  and  p<'rhaps  many  another,  who  would  scorn  '•  Cyclopaedia  learning,' 
might  resort  to  it  to  correct  his  mis-impressions  on  questions  of  fact.  It  is  a 
repository  of  all  valuable  knowledge,  upon  thousands  of  subjects,  and  is  the 
crystallized  result  of  the  explorations  of  centuries,  by  many  savants^  of  all  na- 
tions, in  the  mines  of  truth.  A  good  student  of  the  Cyclopeedia  will  often 
confound  the  scholastic  with  his  well-arranged,  digested,  and  collated  facts, 
while  the  latter,  cudgelling  his  brain  with  futile  effort,  seeks  to  disinter  from 
n  crude  and  disorderly  knowledge,  the  truths  he  knows  are  there,  but  which 
a  want  of  cyclopoediac  order  renders  useless."  —  Buffalo  Daily  Courier. 

URE'S  DICTIONARY.  A  Dictionarj-  of  Arts,  Manufac- 
tures, and  Mines ;  containing  a  clear  Exposition  of  their 
Principles  and  Practice.    By  Andrew  Ure,  M.  D.    New 


rc- 


edition,  with  aM  the  latest  improvements ;  corrected  and 

greatly  enlarged,  with  sixteen   hundred  engravings  on 

wood.    Many  of  the  articles  entirely  rewritten,  and  many 

new  cuts  added.     2  vols.  8vo,  cloth.    $5. 

*'  The  value  of  Dr.  Ure's  Dictionary  of  the  Arts  liaa  already  been  eatabliahed 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  world  of  science."  —  Boston  Atlas, 

"  That  this  is  the  fourth  edition  of  Dr.  Ure's  Dictionary,  Is  one  of  the  best 
proofli  of  its  merit  Another  is  to  be  found  in  the  fact,  that  since  the  first  edi- 
tion appeared  it  has  had  no  competitor  to  contest  its  claims  to  public  fkvor. 
It  has  always  been  so  far  superior  to  every  thing  else  of  the  kind  in  print,  at 
to  discourage  rivalry."  —  N.  Y.  Evening  Post. 

LYELL'S  PRINCIPLES  OF  GEOLOGY.  New  Edi- 
tion. Principles  of  Geology :  or,  the  Mo<lern  Changes  of 
the  Earth  and  its  Inhabita^its  considered  as  illustrative  of 
Geology.  Ninth,  and  entirely  revised  edition.  By  Sir 
Charles  Lyell.  Illustrated  with  maps,  plates,  and  wood- 
cuts.    8vo,  cloth.    $3. 

"  This  work  has  become  so  well  known  to  all  students  of  geology,  that  noth- 
ing need  now  be  said  to  enlarge  the  appreciation  of  its  merits.  It  is  a  neces- 
sary part  of  every  scientific  library." —  N.  Y.  Com,  Adv. 

NORTON'S    GENUINENESS    OF    THE    GOSPELS. 

The  Evidences  of  the  Genuineness  of  the  Grospels.    By 
Andrews  Norton.    Second  edition.    3  vols.  8vo,  cloth.    $5. 

NORTON'S  TRACTS  ON  CHRISTIANITY.  Tracts 
concerning  Christianity.  By  Andrews  Norton.  1  vol.  Svo, 
cloth.    S1.50. 

WILKINSON'S  ANCIENT  EGYPTIANS.  A  Popular 
Account  of  the  Ancient  Egyptians.  Revised  and  abridged 
from  his  larger  work.  By  Sir  J.  Gardner  Wilkinson.  Il- 
lustrated with  five  hundred  wood-cuts.  2  vols.  Post  Svo, 
cloth.     S3. 

HEBER'S  (Bishop)  POETICAL  WORKS.  Uniform 
with  the  Aldine  Poets,.  Fifth  edition.  Portrait.  Fools- 
cap Svo,  cloth.     $1.25. 

RAMSHORN'S  LATIN  SYNONYMES.  New  Edition. 
Dictionary  of  Latin  Synonymes.  For  the  use  of  Schools, 
and  Private  Students.  With  a  complete  Index.  By 
Lewis  Ramshorn.  Translated  from  the  German  by  Fran- 
cis Lieber.    New  edition.   In  1  vol.  12mo.   Halfmor.  $1. 

ADAMS'S  WORKS.    Life  and  Works  of  John  Adams, 

second  President  of  the  United  States.      Edited  by  his 

Grandson,  Charles  Francis  Adams.    Vols.  II.  to  IX.  now 

ready.     Svo,  cloth.    $2.25  per  volume. 

"  There  were  certain  great  spirits  who  were  so  identified  with  the  course  of 


e 


•?enU  that  rcHultctl  in  nur  national  imlopcndencp,  that  their  hhtory  cannot 
be  writtvn  without  in  voIvIuk,  to  h  Kn-at  vxtvnt.  tho  hiiitory  of  nur  countrv  dur- 
ing the  |N>rio«l  in  wliirli  they  HouriMlu'd ;  and  their  worliM  cannot  he  puhiirtied 
without  onilMHlyinK  thomt  not)!**  conci<|itioni«,  tlione  high  |»atriotic  HHpirationR, 
which  became  the  vnry  mnil  of  our  national  lltN>rty.  Bucli  n  Hpirit  prv-enii- 
nently  waa  Jolin  Adninn  —  nnionit  tliv  rcry  Krcateiit  of  tho  nohlo  band  whicli 
Heaven  rained  up  to  do  a  nilnchty  woric,  not  for  n  MltiKln  country  only,  but  fbr 
the  worid.  He  imweMUxi  a  combination  of  (|ualltl«>H  that  would  liaTc  made 
him  n  master  npirit  anywhere ;  and  never  wait  there  an  occaiiion  which  re- 
quired Hurh  qualitieM  nior«%  or  wan  liuttcr  fitted  to  develop  tiiem,  than  our 
great  Revolutionary  vtruKK'c-  With  the  hlKlieiit  order  of  intellect  — clear, 
qulclc,  compreluMiHive,  and  fnr-reacliinK,  lie  united  utern  inteicrity,  and  un- 
yielding flrmneait  of  purpone,  and  »  devotion  to  hiH  country'M  caune,  the  most 
inteuMe  and  heroic.  An  a  vlgorouM  and  powerf^il  writer,  we  ithould  place  him 
at  the  bend  of  all  IiIh  tlluHtrlouH  coniiMterH;  and  IiIh  writing!)  are  warcely  more 
diHtinguiiihed  for  energy  and  originality  of  tliought.  tlian  as  iip«>clnienH  of  the 
purest  EngllMh.  He  never  tou<!heM  a  HubJ<!ct  on  witich  he  does  not  MH'm  en- 
tirely at  homo ;  and  liowevor  familiar  with  it  you  nay  have  Hupmwcd  youmelf, 
he  is  nure  to  open  up  some  new  field  of  tliought  which  you  liad  never  ex- 
plored  

"  It  is  not  too  much  to  say,  tliat  no  American  library  should  be  recltoneil 
complete,  until  thU  noble  national  work  makes  a  part  of  it.  It  Is  printed  In  a 
■tyle  every  way  worthy  of  tho  name  and  mission  of  its  author."  —  Puritan  Re- 
eorder. 

WINTIinOP'S  HISTORY  OF  NEW  ENGLAND.  His- 
tory of  New  England,  from  1630  to  1649.  By  John  Win- 
throp,  first  Governor  of  tho  Colony  of  tho  Massachusetts 
Bay.  From  his  original  manuscript.  With  Notes  by 
James  Savage.    New  edition.    2  vols.  8vo,  cloth.    $4.50. 

"  There  arc  several  circumstances  tliat  give  a  peculiar  interest  to  this  work, 
and  that  ought  to  insure  to  it  a  wide  circulation,  as  they  certainly  will  a  per- 
manent existence.  In  tho  first  place,  tho  author  was  among  the  chief  of  an 
Immortal  band  of  worthies,  with  whom  was  deposited  the  germ  of  a  nation's 
prosperity  to  the  end  of  time,  —  a  nation,  too,  with  which  were  to  be  identified 
the  best  hopes  of  tho  world.  He  was  possessed  of  noble  qualities  of  both  mind 
and  heart,  and  left  a  bold,  bright  mark  on  our  civil  and  religious  institutions, 
that  time  has  done  little  to  wear  out.  Ho  was  an  accurate  observer  of  every 
thing  that  happened ;  and  the  record  of  his  observations,  being  made  wtien 
they  were  flrcsh,  had  every  advantage  for  being  accurate.  He  descends  to  great 
particularity  and  minuteness,  incidentally  bringing  out  many  things,  which, 
though  unimportant  in  themselves,  ore  strikingly  illustrative  of  the  character 
of  individuals,  and  the  manners  and  usages  of  the  day."  —  Puritan  Recorder. 

ELIOT'S  HISTORY  OF  LIBERTY.  History  of  Lib- 
erty. Part  I.  The  Ancient  Romans.  Part  II.  The  Early 
Christians.    By  Samuel  Eliot.    4  vols.  12mo,  cloth.    $5. 

"Wecommend  these  volumes  to  the  student  both  ofhistory  and  of  man,  not 
only  as  a  truthful  and  admirable  narrative  of  events,  but  still  more  as  a  faith- 
ttxl  and  clear-sighted  tracing  of  the  great  principles  of  human  rights  and  hu- 
man aspirations  for  liberty,  as  evidenced  in  the  struggles  for  their  maintenance 
among  the  ancient  Romans."  —  Boston  Atlas. 

"  Besides  being  chanvcterizod  by  great  perspicuity  and  elegance  of  style,  it  is 
rendered  especially  attractive  by  the  vividness  with  which  it  describes  both 
men  and  scenes,  insomuch  that  it  seems  almost  like  a  reproduction  of  the  ac- 
tual reality.  Thocc  who  are  interested  in  studhs  of  this  kind,  will  welcome 
this  work  as  one  of  the  most  efilcient  auxiliaries  wl'h'n  theh*  reach."  —  Albany 
Argus. 


BANCROFTS  HISTORY.    History  of  the  United  States. 

Vols.  IV.  and  V.,  buins  Vols.  I.  and  II.  of  the  History  of 

the  Revolution.    By  Hon.  George  Bancroft.    8vo,  cloth. 

"  Ilia  work  la  and  muat  be  the  aUndard  hlatory  of  tho  country,  and  as  auch 
ahould  reach  every  flunlly,  and  be  atudicd  by  cvei^  iieraon  who  would  be  ac- 
quainted with  the  eventa  of  our  paat  exlatence."  —  New  Jlaven  Journal. 

"  The  fkirther  thia  work  proooeda,  the  more  do  we  feel  that  It  muat  take  Ita 
place  aa  an  eMentially  aatlafttctory  lliatory  of  tho  United  Statea. "— Lone/oA 
Athinaum. 

"  Thia  noble  theme  haa  been  treated  with  a  beuuty  and  a  power,  by  one 
whom  I  need  not  name  In  this  preaence,  (the  hiatorlan  of  the  United  Statea,) 
which,  without  Impairing  their  authenticity,  have  converted  tlie  aevcral  page* 
of  our  hiatorv  into  a  magnificent  Qdyaaey  of  national  adventure."  —  EventVa 
Ltcturt  on  the  Discovery  of  America. 

SPARKS'S  CORRESPONDENCE  OF  THE  REVOLU- 
TION. Being  Letters  from  Eminent  Men  to  George 
Washington,  from  the  Time  of  his  taking  Command  of  the 
American  ^rmy  to  the  End  of  liis  Life.  Edited  by  Jared 
Sparks.    4  vols.  8vo,  cloth,  $9;  royal  8vo,  Si 2. 

"  A  collection  like  thia  la  no  ordinary  offering  to  the  country.  It  is  ran  that 
it  la  met  with."  —  Boston  Post. 

SOCIAL   THEORIES.    Considerations  on  some  Recent 

Social  Theories.     IGmo,  cloth.     75  cents. 

"  Wo  welcome  it  aa  a  useful  addition  to  the  meana  of  forming  a  correct  view 
of  the  present  aocial  condition  of  the  world,  and  sound  ozpectationa  for  the 
Aiture."  —  Advertiser. 

PARKER'S  THEISM.  Sermons  of  Theism,  Atheism,  and 
the  Popular  Theology.  By  Rev.  Theodore  Parker.  1 
vol.  12mo,  cloth.     $1.25. 

THE  BREUGHEL  BROTHERS.    Translated  from  the 

German  of  the  Baron  Von  Sternberg.    By  Dr.  G.  Henry 

Lodge.    Illustrated  by  Billings.     Small  4to,  cloth.    $2. 

"  There  are  German  books  that  have  passages  like  the  taste  of  the  unap 
proachable  German  wine,  the  Tokay  of  Prince  Mettemich,  which  you  drinK, 
and  bless  the  grape  from  which  it  is  squeezed.  One  of  these  has  Just  been 
translated  by  U.  Henry  Lodge,  of  Boston,  and  published  with  exquisite  illus- 
trations. It  is  called  Thk  Breuamel  Brothers,  and  is  well  described  by  the 
translator,  in  his  preface :  — '  This  little  volume  may  properly  be  called  an  Art- 
novel.  The  characters  are  artists,  The  language  is  that  of  Art,  and  the 
scenes  are  paintings  in  words,  so  clear  and  vigorous  in  their  outlines,  so  brU- 
llant  and  lively  in  their  details,  that  any  one  who  can  handle  a  pencil  may 
draw  from  them  pictures  as  easily  as  if  he  had  a  picture  before  him.'  The 
translator  puts  thi<t  old  wine  into  new  bottles  with  wonderM  preservation  of 
the  flavor."  —  Home  Journal. 


ac- 


MISCELLANEOUS  WORKS  IN  TRESS. 


BACON'S  WORKS.  The  Wor|ci  of  Francis,  Lord  Bacon. 
From  the  complete  English  edition,  by  Basil  Montague. 
In  12  vols.  8vo. 

PLUTARCH'S  LIVES.  Partly  from  Dryden's  Transla- 
tion, and  partly  from  other  hands ;  the  whole  carefully  re- 
vised and  corrected ;  with  some  Original  Translations  by 
the  editor,  A.  H.  Clough,  Esq.,  late  Follow  of  Oriel  Col- 
lege, Oxfcml.    5  vols.  8vo. 

HUME'S  PHILOSOPHICAL  WORKS.  The  Philosoph- 
ical Writings  of  David  Hume.    In  4  vols.  8vo. 

NORTON'S  TRANSLATION  OF  THE  GOSPELS. 
A  Translation  of  the  Four  Gospels.  With  Notes.  By 
Andrews  Norton.    In  2  vols.  8vo. 

PIERCE'S  MECHANICS.  A  Treatise  on  Analytic  Me- 
chanics. By  Benjamin  Pierce,  LL.  D.,  Perkins  Professor 
of  Astronomy  and  Mathematics  in  Harvard  University. 
In  1  vol.  4to. 

BON  QUIXOTE.  Translated  from  the  Spanish  by  Mot- 
teux.  With  a  Life  of  the  Author,  and  copious  Notes.  By 
J.  G.  Lockhart.    In  4  vols.  12mo. 

ADAMS'S  WORKS.  Life  and  Works  of  John  Adams, 
second  President  of  the  United'  States.  Edited  by  hit 
Grandson,  Charles  Francis  Adams.    Vols.  I.  and  X. 

AMES'S  LIFE  AND  WORKS.  The  Life  and  Works  of 
Fisher  Ames.  Edited  by  his  son,  Seth  Ames,  Esq.  In  2 
vols.  8vo. 

LYELL'S  MANUAL  OF  GEOLOGY.  New  Edition. 
Manual  of  Elementary  Geology ;  or,  the  Ancient  Changes 
of  the  Earth  and  its  Inhabitants,  as  illustrated  by  Geolog- 
ical Monuments.  By  Sir  Charles  Lyeil.  Fiflh  and  en- 
tirely revised  edition.  Illustrated  with  maps,  plates,  and 
wood-cuts.     8vo,  cloth.    (Nearly  ready.) 


.^  I 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


BY 


FREDERICK    GRIFFIN.  (^.^ 


<^* 


"  There  never  existed  ft  man 

a  del 


comwicate<| 


BOSTON: 

LITTLE,   BROWN   AND    COMPANY. 

LONDON: 

TRUBNER  &  CO.,  12  PATERNOSTER  ROW. 

MONTREAL :  H.  RAMSAT. 

TORONTO :  A.  H.  ARMOUR  &  CO. 

1854. 


Entored  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  tlie  year  1858,  by 
LITTLE,  BROWN  AND  COMPANY, 
In  tlie  Cleric's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  MassachuaettSi 


Cambridge; 
allex  and  fabnhah,  pbimteks. 


TO  THE 


LITERARY  PUBLIC 


OF  THE  BRITISH  ISLES,  AND  OF  AMERICA. 


Chance  cast  the  subject  of  the  following  pages  in 
my  way; — it  was  taken  up  as  a  literary  amusement, 
without  a  thought  of  its  attaining  to  a  conclusion  so 
satisfactory  as  to  induce  its  publication.  But  with  the 
gradual  development  of  the  subject,  a  proportionate 
increase  in  the  estimate  of  its  importance  arose ;  until, 
gaining  strength,  that  which  originated  in  a  mere  passe" 
temps,  ripened  into  a  sober  and  sustained  inquiry. 
Time  alone  will  show,  whether  the  result  will  receive 
the  favorable  stamp  of  public  opinion ;  or,  whether  it 
will  be  consigned  to  that  oblivion  into  which  the  la- 
boured productions,  on  the  same  subject,  of  many  abler 
pens  and  sounder  judgments,  have  been  finally  en- 
gulfed. 


13595 


yr 


IV 


PREFACB. 


I 


In  addition  to  a  frank  avowal  of  a  general  want  of 
qualification  for  the  task,  and  in  deprecation  of  that 
species  of  criticism  which  delights  in  displaying  its  own 
erudition,  and  keeping  up  an  "  arrowy  shower  "  of  wit, 
at  faults  of  style,  and  other  minor  defects,  while  it 
leaves  the  substantial  merits  of  an  author's  views  and 
opinions  untouched,  a  few  facts  may  be  mentioned,  that 
may,  in  some  degree,  excuse  the  omission  of  the  notice 
of  many  books,  which  every  writer  on  the  subject  must 
be  presumed  to  have,  at  least,  looked  into  ;  and  will,  at 
the  same  time,  extenuate  the  apparent  neglect  of  a 
reference  to  works,  which  might  be  supposed  to  have 
such  a  bearing  on  the  subject  as  would  tend  to  its 
clearer  elucidation. 

In  the  first  place  then,  my  pen,  as  an  author,  has 
hitherto  been  untried;  and  it  is,  therefore,  with  no 
slight  diffidence  that  I  submit  this,  its  first  attempt,  to 
the  well-exercised  acumen  of  the  literary  public.  In 
the  next  place,  my  native  city  and  home,  from 
which  I  write,  possesses  no  public  library;  and  the 
few  private  libraries  to  which  I  have  had  access,  were 
too  limited  to  have  been  of  material  use.  Lastly,  I 
cannot,  like  the  "veteran  author"  of  Junius  Eluci- 
dated, boast  of  having  "  written  considerably  more  than 
one  hundred  letters,  and  examined  one  hundred  lite- 
rary works,  in  the  hopes  of  attaining  that  species  of 
evidence   which  could    neither   be    controverted    nor 


PREFACE.  T 

doubted,"'  —  for,  as  an  unknown  colonist,  I  could 
not  stimulate  my  presumption  to  address  letters  of 
inquiry  to  the  great  and  the  learaed  in  England, 
(where  alone  the  information  could  be  obtained,)  with 
any  expectation  of  receiving  an  answer;  and,  as  al- 
ready intimated,  such  literary  works  were  beyond  my 
reach.  I  cannot,  therefore,  here  follow  the  example 
of  Mr.  Britton,  and  fill  the  better  part  of  a  page  with 
the  names  of  field-marshals,  primates,  and  peers,— 
baronets,  knights,  and  M.  P.*8,  —  soldiers,  divines,  and 
esquires,  to  whom  expressions  of  gratitude  are  due 
"for  obliging  and  interesting  letters  in  answer  to  my 
inquiries;"  —  nor  can  I,  like  him,  indicate  the  great 
depth  of  authorship  into  which  my  researches  have 
extended. 

It  may  be  asked  —  then  why,  with  all  these  disquali- 
JicaiionSi  write  at  aU? — the  answer  is  —  the  learned 
and  the  critical  having  endeavoured,  through  four  fifths 
of  a  century,  to  combat  and  overcome  the  mystery  of 
Junius,  and  failed,  the  "babes  and  sucklings"  of 
literature  may  now  be  permitted  to  run  a  tilt  at  it ;  — 
and  who  knows,  but  that  the  honour  denied  to  the  wis- 
dom of  the  former,  may  yet  be  yielded  to  the  foolish- 
ness of  one  of  the  latter  ?  It  rests  with  the  Litebart 
Public  op  the  British  Isles,  and  op  America, 
to  whom  the  question  more  particularly  belongs,  and 


1  P.  xxiv. 


-n 


PREFACE. 


to  whom  these  pages  are  respectfully  dedicated,  to 
decide,  whether  that  one  shall  be 

Their  humble  servant, 

Frederick  Griffdt. 

Montreal,  St  Gabriel  Street,  June,  1852. 


Postscript.  —  At  the  above  date,  the  following 
essay  was  made  ready  for  the  printer: — circumstances, 
however,  induced  me  to  withhold  it  for  a  time,  and 
before  that  time  attained  its  end,  an  opportunity  of 
visiting  the  British  metropolis  presented  itself  to  me. 
In  the  course  of  the  visit  I  discovered  evidence  in 
favor  of  my  theory,  of  so  decisive  a  character,  as,  at 
the  first  blush,  to  induce  the  re-writing  of  the  essay. 
But  further  reflection  told  me,  that  more  credit  would 
be  attachable  to  the  discovery  of  the  great  nominis 
umbra,  if  it  were  known  to  have  been  made,  not  only 
in  despite  of  the  disadvantages  alluded  to  in  the  fore- 
going preface  and  dedication,  but  while  the  existence 
of  this  further  evidence  was  not  even  suspected.  In 
Justice  to  myself,  therefore,  I  now  submit  my  essay 
as  it  was  originally  prepared;  and  add  to  it,  with  a 
few  prefatory  remarks,  the  newly  discovered  evidence* 

F.   O. 

Montreal,  September,  1868. 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


"Tor  SHALL  KNOW  MB  BY  MY  WOHK8." 

Junius  to  Wood/all. 

Time  having  demonstrated  the  utter  improba- 
bility of  our  ever  obtaining  positive  or  direct 
proof  of  the  identity  of  the  writer  of  the  cele- 
brated Letters  op  Junius,  we  must,  of  necessity, 
either  abandon  the  attempt  to  discover  him,  or 
establish  the  fact  of  his  identity  by  means  of 
circumstantial  or  presumptive  evidence ;  and  it 
is  manifest,  that  the  more  cumulative  the  latter 
description  of  evidence  can  be  made,  the  nearer 
it  will  approach  to  the  former. 

As  our  knowledge  of  Junius  is  restricted  to 
the  public  letters  first  published,  in  a  collected 
form,  under  his  own  authority,  in  1772,  and  to 
the  collection  of  his  private  letters  to  H.  S. 
Woodfall  and  Mr.  Wilkes,  and  the  MisceUor 
neous  Letters,  published  in  1812,  and  again  in 
1814,  by  Woodfall's  son  —  the  two  former  un- 
doubtedly genuine,  and  the  generality  of  the 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


latter  presumed  to  be  so,  we  must  glean  from 
them,  alone,  what  Junius  was,  in  order,  with 
that  knowledge,  to  form  a  basis  upon  which  to 
establish  who  he  was.  Fortunately  for  us,  a 
great  portion  of  the  first  part  of  the  labour  has 
been  so  ably  performed  by  Dr.  Mason  Good, 
in  his  preliminary  essay  to  G.  Woodfall's  edi- 
tion, that  we  cannot  do  better  than  avail  our- 
selves of  his  clear  and  useful  summary,  the  cor- 
rectness of  the  deductions  in  which,  has  now, 
with  few  exceptions,  been  very  generally  acqui- 
esced in,  through  a  period  of  nearly  forty  years. 
And  even  the  more  important  of  the  exceptions 
alluded  to  will,  on  examination,  be  found  to  be 
less  based  on  established  premises,  and  clear 
reasoning  therefrom,  than  on  a  desire  of  sup- 
porting some  pet  theory.  On  these  controverted 
points,  we  shall  state  our  dpinion  in  simple  pro- 
positions, merely  adding  thereto,  with  an  occa- 
sional remark,  such  extracts  from  the  letters  as, 
in  our  view,  will  bear  them  out;  and  to  the 
references  to  the  pages  of  G.  Woodfall's  edition 
of  1814,  we  shall  add  the  numbers  and  dates  of 
the  letters,  whereby  the  references  may,  with 
little  trouble,  be  found  in  any  other  edition. 

"  From  the  observations  contained  in  this 
essay,"  says  Dr.  Mason  Good,  "  it  should  seem 
to  follow  unquestionably,  that  the  author  of  the 
Letters  of  Junius  was  an  Englishman  of  highly 
Qultivated  education,  deeply  versed  in  the  Ian- 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


9 


r,  with 
hich  to 
'  us,  a 


guage,  the  laws,  the  constitution  and  history  of 
his  native  country :  —  that  he  was  a  man  of 
easy  if  not  of  affluent  circumstances,  of  unsullied 
honour  and  generosity,  who  had  it  equally  in  his 
heart  and  in  his  power  to  contribute  to  the  ne« 
cessities  of  other  persons,  and  especially  of  those 
who  were  exposed  to  troubles  of  any  kind  on  his 
own  account:  that  he  was  in  habits  of  confidential 
intercourse,  if  not  with  different  members  of  the 
cabinet,  with  politicians  who  were  most  inti- 
mately familiar  with  the  court,  and  intrusted 
with  all  its  secrets :  that  he  had  attained  an  age 
which  would  allow  him,  without  vanity,  to  boast 
of  an  ample  knowledge  and  experience  of  the 
world :  that  during  the  years  1767,  1768,  1769, 
1770, 1771,  and  part  of  1772,  he  resided  almost 
constantly  in  London  or  its  vicinity,  devoting, 
a  very  large  portion  of  his  time  to  political  con- 
cerns, and  publishing  his  political  lucubrations, 
under  different  signatures,  in  the  Public  Adver- 
tiser ;  that  in  his  natural  temper,  he  was  quick, 
irritable,  and  impetuous ;  subject  to  political  pre- 
judices and  strong  personal  animosities ;  but 
possessed  of  a  high  independent  spirit ;  honestly- 
attached  to  the  principles  of  the  constitution,^^ 
and  fearless  and  indefatigable  in  maintaining 
them  ;  that  he  was  strict  in  his  moral  conduct, 
and  in  his  attention  to  public  decorum ;  an 
avowed  member  of  the  established  church  ;  and, 
though  acquainted  with  English  judicature,  not 


10 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


a  lawyer  by  profession.  What  other  charac- 
teristics he  may  have  possessed,  we  know  not ; 
but  these  arc  sufficient ;  and  the  claimant  who 
cannot  produce  them  conjointly,  is  in  vain 
brought  forward  as  the  author  of  the  Letters 
of  Junius."^  We  may  apply  to  Junius  the  lan- 
guage he  used  in  reference  to  Lord  Mansfield;— 
"  There  never  existed  a  man  but  himself,  who 
answered  to  so  complicated  a  description."  ^ 

The  age  of  Junius :  —  At  the  commencement 
of  his  career,  in  that  character,  he  had  attained, 
if  he  had  not  already  passed,  the  prime  of  life. 
"  It  seems  absurd  to  suppose,"  says  Dr.  Good, 
"  that  Junius  could  be  much  less  than  fifty  ;  or 
that  he  affected  an  age  that  he  had  not  actually 
attained; "8  —  and  Dr.  Good  was  right.  Here 
are  the  proofs :  — 

Misc.  Letter,  XXXIIL,  Avgust  19,  1768.— 
"  These  are  the  times  when  every  ignorant  boy 
thinks  himself  fit  to  be  a  minister."*  This  ia 
not  the  language  of  a  young  man,  but  that  of 
one  who  has  been,  for  some  years,  used  to  the 
conviction,  that  he,  himself,  is  no  longer  young ; 
—  a  conviction  which  few  men  —  nay,  which  no 
man  will  admit  before  he  finds  himself  on  the 
wrong  side  of  five  and  forty.  Every  regiment 
in  the  service  can  furnish  an  officer,  who  —  hav- 


1  Prel.  Essay,  vol.  i.  97,  et  seq. 
»  Vol.  i.  46. 


*  Letter  lix.,  vol.  ii.  355. 

*  Vol.  iu.  97. 


JUNIUS  DI800VERED. 


li 


ing  passed  that  Rubicon  of  years,  and  being  too 
poor  to  purchase  a  step  —  uses  similar  language 
half-a-dozen  times  in  the  course  of  a  year,  on 
learning  that  some  junior,  in  years  as  well  as  in 
rank,  has  been  promoted  over  his  head  by  put' 
chase.  At  the  date  of  the  quoted  letter,  the 
Duke  of  Grafton  was  first  lord  of  the  treasury, 
and  about  thirty-three  years  of  age ;  and  Lord 
North,  chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  —  the  Earl 
of  Shelburne,  one  of  the  principal  secretaries  of 
State,  —  and  the  Earl  of  Hillsborough,  secretary 
of  State  for  the  colonies,  were — respectively, 
thirty-six,  thirty-two,  and  fifty.* 

Of  the  like  import  are  the  following  four  ex- 
tracts, in  reference  to  the  Duke  of  Grafton :  -^ 

Misc,  Letter  XXL,  April22y  1768,— His  Grace 
is  spoken  of,  as  one  "  who,  though  green  in  years, 
is  ripe  in  devices."* 

Misc,  Letter  XLVIU.,  October  19,  1768.— 
"  When  the  Duke  of  Grafton  first  entered  into 
office,  it  was  the  fashion  of  the  times  to  suppose 
that  young  men  might  have  wisdom  without 
experience.    They  thought  so  themselves,  and 


^  Sir  Philip  Francis  was  only  twenty-eight.  At  the  age  of 
forty-six,  the  Marqais  of  Granby  was  made  commander-in-chief 
of  all  his  Majesty's  forces  in  Great  Britain ;  —  "It  was  cruel," 
wrote  the  celebrated  Earl  of  Chesterfield,  then  aged  seventy-two, ' 
"  to  put  such  a  boy  as  Lord  Granby  over  the  head  of  old  Ligo- 
nier." — Chatham  Correspondence^  vol.  iii.  33. 

«  Vol.  iu.  44. 


12 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


the  most  important  affairs  of  this  country  were 
committed  to  the  first  trial  of  their  abilities.  .  .  . 
.  .  .  From  that  moment,  a  system  of  conduct, 
directed  by  passion  and  caprice,  not  only  reminds 
us  that  he  is  a  young  man,  but  a  young  man 
without  solidity  or  judgment."^ 

Letter  XL,  April  24,  1769,  — "With  every 
good-natured  allowance  for  your  Grace's  youth 
and  inexperience,  there  are  some  things  which 
you  cannot  but  know ;"  ^  —  and 

Letter  XXXIX.,  May  28,  1770, —  «  Had  the 
young  mnn  been  a  little  more  practised  in  the 
world  ....  he  would  not  have  been  so 
easily  discouraged."  ^ 

In  No,  77,  October  21, 1771,  Wilkes,  writing 
to  Junius,  asks, — "Does  Junius  wish  for  any 
dinner  or  ball-tickets  for  the  lord  mayor's  day, 
for  himself,  or  friends,  or  a;  favorite,  or  Junia  ? 

How  happy  should  I  be  to  see  my 

Portia  here  dance  a  graceful  minuet  with  Junius 
Brutus!  but  Junius  is  inexorable,  and  I  submit:" 
— to  which  Junius  answers,  —  "  Many  thanks  for 
your  obliging  offer ; — but  alas !  my  age  and  figure 
would  do  but  little  credit  to  my  partner.  I  ac- 
knowledge the  relation  between  Cato  and  Portia, 
but  in  truth  I  see  no  connection  between  Junius 
and  a  minuet."*  Wilkes  (then  about  53  years 
of  age)  compared  himself  and  his  daughter  (then 


1  Vol.  iii.  167.     2  Vol.  i.  475.     «  Vol.  ii.  136.     *  Vol.  iii.  325. 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


13 


in  her  22nd  year),  to  the  younger  Cato  ( Uticen* 
sis)f  and  his  daughter  Porcia ;  and  wished  to 
perfect  the  comparison,  by  assimilating  Junius 
with  Junius  Brutus,  who  had  been  the  lover, 
and  was  afterwards  the  husband  of  Porcia. 
Junius  acknowledged  the  compared  relationship 
of  the  former  ;  but,  knowing  that  his  own  age 
approximated  more  nearly  to  that  of  the  father, 
than  to  that  of  the  daughter,  he  could  see  no 
connection  between  himself  and  a  minuet;  — 
that  is,  between  himself  as  a  youthful  Junius 
Brutus  and  a  lover,  dancing  a  minuet  with  Miss 
Wilkes,  as  a  Porcia  and  his  betrothed  bride. 
To  reduce  the  hint  of  Junius  to  the  terms  of 
common  parlance  —  he  was  "  old  enough  to  be 
Miss  Wilkes's  father ; "  and,  therefore,  he  might 
very  properly  write,  as  he  did,  shortly  afterward, 
to  Woodfall  — "  After  long  experience  of  the 
worlds  I  affirm  before  God,  I  never  knew  a  rogue 
who  was  not  unhappy."  ^ 

Junius  was  educated  at  Cambridge.  So  far  as 
we  are  aware,  this  point  has  only  been  mooted 
by  Mr.  Taylor,  the  author  of  Junius  Identified^ 
and  that  but  slightly. 

In  Letter  XXV.,  September  25, 1769,  addressed 
to  Sir  William  Draper,  who  was  "  a  Cambridge 
man,"  Junius  says,  —  "I  think  you  might  have 
learnt  at  the  university,  that  a  false  conclusion  is 


1  Vol.  i.  237,  No.  44,  Nov.  27,  1771. 


14 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


an  error  in  argument,  not  a  breach  of  veracity."^ 
If  Junius  had  been  educated  at  any  other  uni- 
versity than  "that  of  Cambridge  —  or  had  not 
been  educated  at  any  university,  he  would  have 
said  —  at  the  university  of  Cambridge,  or  —  more 
familiarly  —  at  Cambridge  —  as  he  himself  did, 
in  his  controversy  with  Home,  (who,  likewise, 
was  a  Cambridge  man,)  namely,  in  Letter  LIV., 
Aug.  13,  1771,  — "  This  may  be  logic  at  Cam,' 
bridge,  or  at  the  Treasury,  etc."^  But  in  writ- 
ing to  his  fellow  Cantab.,  Junius  required  and 
therefore  used  no  other  expression  than  —  the 
university  —  to  designate  the  particular  univer- 
sity at  which  both  of  them  had  been  educated. 
The  close  also  of  Letter  XV.,  July  8,  1769,3 
seems  to  breathe  an  intimacy  with  the  univer- 
sity of  Cambridge,  and  its  heads,  strongly  savour- 
ing of  that  of  an  alumnus  with  his  alma  mater. 

At  the  date  of  that  letter,  the  Duke  of  Graf- 
ton, to  whom  it  is  addressed,  was  Chancellor, 
and  Lord  Sandwich  high-steward  of  the  uni- 
versity. 

Junius  was  not,  by  profession,  either  a  soldier, 
or  a  lavjyer :  — 

Misc.  Letter,  XLIV.,  Sept.  20,  1768.  To  the 
Earl  of  Hillsborough.  "  I  am  not  a  soldier,  my 
Lord,  nor  will  I  pretend  to  determine,  what 
share  of  honour  a  general  is  entitled  to  for  suc- 


1  Vol.  ii.  7. 


2  lb.  315. 


8  Vol.  i.  512. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


15 


cess,  who  must  have  borne  the  whole  blame 

and  disgrace,  if  he  had  failed As 

to  the  rest,  I  have  heard  from  military  men,  that 
the  judgment  and  capacity,  which  make  re- 
sistance useless  or  impracticable,  are  rated  much 
higher  than  even  the  resolution  which  over- 
comes it."  ^ 

Letter  XIV.,  June  22, 1769.  «  As  to  lawyers, 
their  profession  is  supported  by  the  indiscrimi- 
nate defence  of  right  and  wrong,  and  I  confess 
I  have  not  that  opinion  of  their  knowledge  or 
integrity,  to  think  it  necessary  that  they  should 
decide  for  me  upon  a  plain  constitutional  ques- 
tion."« 

Letter  No.  70,  to  Wilkes,  Sept.  18,  1771. 
"  Though  I  use  the  terms  of  art,  do  not  injure 
me  so  much  as  to  suspect  I  am  a  lawyer.  I 
had  as  lief  be  a  Scotchman.  —  It  is  the  encour^ 
agement  given  to  disputes  about  titles,  which 
has  supported  that  iniquitous  profession  at  the 
expense  of  the  community."  * 

The  Preface.  "  I  am  no  lawyer  by  profession, 
nor  do  I  pretend  to  be  more  deeply  read,  than 
every  English  gentleman  should  be  in  the  laws  of 
his  country.  If  therefore  the  principles  I  main- 
tain are  truly  constitutional,  I  shall  not  think 
myself  answered,  though  I  should  be  convicted 


1  Vol.  iii.  154. 


2  Vol.  i.  498. 


8  lb.  312. 


16 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


of  a  mistake  in  terms,  or  of  misapplying  the 
language  of  the  law."  ^ 

Letter  LXIIL,  Oct.  22, 1771.  «  You  Barristers 
are  too  apt  to  be  civil  to  my  Lord  Chief  Justice, 
at  the  expense  of  your  clients."  ^ 

Junius  was  a  member  of  one  of  the  houses  of 
parliament;  most  probably ,  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons :  — 

Misc,  Letter  LXXVIL,  Nov.  19,  1770.  «A 
few  days  ago  I  was  in  a  large  public  company, 
where  there  happened  some  curious  conversa- 
tion.' The  Secretary  at  War^  was  pleased  to 
express  himself  with  unusual  simplicity  and  can- 
dour. He  assured  us  that,  after  having  carefully 
considered  the  subject,  he  did  not  know  a  single 
general  officer  (out  of  near  an  hundred  now  in 
the  service)  who  was  in  any  shape  qualified  to 
command  the  army ;  and  for  fear  we  should  not 
believe  him,  repeated  and  inforced  his  assertion 
five  several  times.  You  will  allow.  Sir,  that,  at 
the  eve  of  a  foreign  war,  this  is  pretty  comfort- 
able intelligence  for  the  nation,  especially  as  it 
comes  from  authority.  He  gave  us  some  conso- 
lation, however,  by  assuring  us  that  he  and  Gen- 
eral Hervey  would  take  excellent  care  of  the 
army,  and  compared  himself  (not  unhappily)  to 


1  lb.  350. 

8  Lord  Viscount  Bamngton. 

I 


a  Vol.  ii.  389. 


JUl^IUS  DISCOVERED. 


17 


an  old  woman  curing  an  ague  with  the  assist- 
ance of  Doctor  Radcliff."  ^ 

Misc.  Letter  LXXVIIl,  Nov,  24, 1770,  shows, 
that  "the  large  public  company,"  mentioned  in 
the  preceding  extract,  was  no  other  than  the 
House  of  Commons.2  "  I  have  never  joined  in 
the  severe  censures  which  have  lately  been  thrown 
upon  Lord  Barrington.  The  formal  declaration  he 
was  pleased  to  malte  (for  the  information  of  the 
House  of  Commons  and  of  this  country.^)  with  respect 
to  the  shameful  ignorance  and  incapacity  of  all  the 
general  officers,  without  exception,  may,  for  aught 
I  know,  be  extremely  well  founded ;  and  if  it 
were  not  so,  I  do  not  consider  the  Viscount  as 

a  free  agent When  the  Secretary  at 

War  has  informed  the  House  of  Commons,  in  the 
name  of  his  gracious  master  (for  it  is  not  to  be 
suspected  that  he  spoke  for  himself),  that  all  his 
general  officers  were  no  better  than  drivellers,  it 
follows  of  course  that  the  secretary  at  war,  with 
the  adjutant-general's  advice,  must  be  the  osten- 
sible manager  of  the  army."  ^ 

Misc,  Letter  LXXXVHl,  Feb.  13,  1771.— 
The  signature  to  this  letter  is  remarkable.  It 
is  —  "  ^  Member  of  one  House  of  Parliament  in 
mourning' for  the  honour  of  his  king"  and  cmintry.^^  * 


)1.  ii.  389. 


1  Vol.  iii.  278. 

'^  In  a  previous  letter,  vol.  iii.  12,  the  H.  of  C.  is  spoken  of  as 
**  a  certain  great  assembly." 
»  Vol.  iii.  280  et  seq.  *  lb.  338. 

2 


18 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


This  indicates  that  Junius  was  a  member  of  one 
of  the  two  Houses.  If  he  had  been  of  the  House 
of  Lords,  he  might,  reasonably,  be  presumed  — 
from  the  subject  of  the  letter,  namely,  the  seiz- 
ure of  Falkland's  island,  —  to  have  been  one  of 
the  nineteen  peers,  who  recorded  their  dissent  in 
a  protest  scarcely  less  remarkable,  for  strength  of 
indignant  expression,  than  the  letter  itself.  To 
one  of  these  nineteen  peers,  the  authorship  of 
the  letters  of  Junius  has,  frequently,  been  attrib- 
uted, namely,  to  the  Earl  of  Chatham ;  and  he 
is,  indeed,  the  only  one  of  them  to  whom,  with  a 
shadow  of  probability,  the  authorship  could  have 
been  attributed.  But,  assuming  that  neither 
Lord  Chatham,  nor  any  other  member  of  the 
House  of  Lords,  was  the  author,  we  must  con- 
clude—  unless  we  assume  the  signature  to  be 
wholly  fictitious  —  that  Junius  belonged  to  — 
and  not  only  belonged  to,  but  was  —  "A  Mem- 
ber "  of  the  lower  House. 

"  I  READ  "  —  says  the  letter  —  "  with  aston- 
ishment, and  no  small  indignation,  a  letter  which 
is  at  last  got  into  your  paper ;  I  mean  that  from 
Lord  Weymouth  to  Mr.  Harris.  The  copy  which 
you  have  procured  I  know  to  be  authentic,  hav- 
ing read  it  amongst  the  papers  laid  by  adminis- 
tration before  both  houses."  ^  The  letter  referred 
to,  was  dated  Oct.  17,  1770,  and  laid  before 

1  Vol.  iii.  324. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


19 


m 


Parliament  on  the  following  4th  of  Febraary, 
when  the  House  ordered  —  not  that  it  should  be 
printed,  but  —  that  it  (with  the  other  papers) 
"do  lie  upon  the  table  to  be  perused  by  the 
members  of  this  House."  ^  We  have  not  the 
means  of  ascertaining  on  what  day  it  appeared  in 
the  Public  Advertiser ;  but,  from  the  above  ex- 
tract, we  strongly  suspect,  that  it  was  only  a  day 
or  two  before  the  date  of  the  letter  from  which 
our  extract  is  taken ;  and  that  the  publication  in 
the  Public  Advertiser  was  the  first  appearance 
of  his  lordship's  letter  in  a  newspaper.  If  our 
suspicion  be  well  founded,  then  Junius  must 
have  read  the  original  "  with  astonishment,  and 
no  small  indignation,"  either  in  the  House  of 
Lords,  or  in  the  House  of  Commons ;  and,  in  all 
probability,  his  access  to  it  was  obtained  as  a 
member  of  the  latter  House. 

Letter  LIV.,  Aug".  13,  1771.  "ilify  vote  will 
hardly  recommend  him  (Lord  Chatham)  to  an 
increase  of  his  pension,  or  to  a  seat  in  the  cab- 
inet." 2  Would  he  have  spoken  of  his  vote,  if  he 
had  not  been  a  member,  either  of  one  of  the 
houses  of  parliament,  or  of  that  portion  of  the 
privy  council,  the  members  of  which,  for  the 
time  being,  are  —  in  contradistinction  to  the 
merely  honorary  members  —  usually  summoned 


1  Journals  of  the  H.  of  C,  vol.  xxxiii.  138  et  seq. 

^  Vol.  ii.  310.    The  italicising  the  word  my  is  Junius's. 


20 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


to  attend  the  cabinet  meetings  of  that  body? 
An  increase  of  Lord  Chatham's  pension,  if  it 
was  to  be  effected  by  parliament,  must  in  the 
first  instance  have  been  decided  by  a  vote  of  the 
cabinet,  to  recommend  it ;  and  next,  by  the  votes 
of  the  two  Houses ;  —  and,  a  "  seat  in  the  cab- 
inet" must  also  have  been  decided  by  a  vote 
of  the  cabinet,  and  the  approval  of  the  King. 

If  Junius  had  not  been  a  member  of  the  House 
of  Commons,  would  he  —  could  he  have  written 
in  the  following  parliamentary  strain  of  the  lower 
House  ? 

Letter  LIX.,  Oct.  5, 1771.  « I  will  not  reject 
a  bill  which  tends  to  confine  parliamentary  privi- 
lege within  reasonable  bounds,  though  it  should 
be  stolen  from  the  House  of  Cavendish,  and 
introduced  by  Mr.  Onslow.  The  features  of  the 
infant  are  a  proof  of  the  descent,  and  vindicate 
the  noble  birth  from  the  baseness  of  the  adop- 
tion. —  I  willingly  accept  of  a  sarcasm  from 
Colonel  BarrSy  or  a  simile  from  Mr.  Burke. 
Even  the  silent  vote  of  Mr.  Calcraft  is  worth 
reckoning  in  a  division."  ^ 

The  two  following  extracts,  particularly  the 
last  one,  from  the  letters  to  Woodfall,  may, 
possibly,  have  been  prompted  by  the  fear  of 
betraying  himself,  in  the  event  of  Woodfall  be- 


1  Vol.  ii.  357.    All  the  persons  named  in  this  extract,  were 
members  of  the  House  of  Commons. 


f 


JTJNirS  DISCOVBBED. 


21 


ing  "brought  up"  by  the  Hou8e  of  Commons 
«  for  breach  of  privilege." 

No.  7,  Aug'.  16, 1769.  "  Avoid  prosecutions  if 
you  can ;  but,  above  all  things,  avoid  the  Houses 
of  Parliament,  —  there  is  no  contending  with 
them.  At  present  you  are  safe,  for  this  House 
of  Commons  has  lost  all  dignity,  and  dare  not 
do  any  thing."  ^     And  — 

No.  15,  Dec.  12, 1769.  «  As  to  the  House  of 
Commons,  there  may  be  more  danger.  But 
even  there  I  am  fully  satisfied  the  ministry  will 
exert  themselves  to  quash  such  an  inquiry ;  and 
on  the  other  side,  you  tvill  have  friends :  —  but 
they  have  been  so  grossly  abused  on  all  sides, 
that  they  will  hardly  begin  with  you."  ^ 

To  our  mind,  the  tone  of  at  least  one  half  of 
the  avowed  letters  of  Junius  conveys  the  impres- 
sion, that  he  was  an  active  member  of  the  House 
of  Commons,  and  perfectly  conversant  with  its 
rules,  its  privileges,  and  its  forms ;  and  we  are 
unable  to  conceive  how,  in  the  face  of  the  letters, 
the  contrary  has  so  often  been  contended  for ;  or 
how  it  happened,  that  it  should  not  have  been 
prominently  noticed  in  the  impartial  and  judi- 
cious preliminary  essay  of  Dr.  Good.  Perhaps 
the  high-flown  panegyric  of  Mr.  Burke,  may 
have  influenced  the  minds  of  many  to  the  belief, 
that  Junius  could  not  possibly  have  been  a  mem- 


extract,  were 


1  Vol.  i.  198. 


2  lb.  205. 


22 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


ber  of  the  legislature,  without  betraying  himself, 
—  and,  therefore^  they  concluded,  that  he  was 
not  a  member  of  either  House.  — "  Were  he  a 
member  of  this  house,"  said  Burke,  "  what  might 
not  be  expected  from  his  knowledge,  his  firmness, 
and  integrity?  He  would  be  easily  known  by 
his  contempt  of  all  danger,  by  his  penetration, 
by  his  vigour.  Nothing  would  escape  his  vigi- 
lance and  activity.  Bad  ministers  could  conceal 
nothing  from  his  sagacity;  nor  could  promises 
nor  threats  induce  him  to  conceal  any  thing  from 
the  public."  1 

Having  thus,  with  the  assistance  of  Dr.  Good, 
sufficiently  deduced,  from  his  own  writings  what 
Junius  was,  we  shall  proceed  to  show,  that,  in 
every  essential  particular,  his  life,  writings,  and 
opinions,  were  coincident,  and  harmonized  with 
those  of  the  learned  antiquarian,  Thomas  Pow- 
NALL,  more  generally  and  familiarly  known  as 
Governor  Pownall. 

A  short  sketch  of  the  Governor's  life,  in  which, 
we  shall,  for  collateral  purposes,  include  some 
notice  of  his  family  and  connexions,  will  best 
prepare  the  reader  for  our  proofs  of  his  identity 
with  Junius.  It  is  chiefly  derived  from  Burke's 
Dictionary  of  the  landed  gentry  of  England^  — 
and  Nichols'  Literary  Anecdotes  of  the  Eighteenth 


1  Speech  in  the  H.  of  C,  Nov.  27,  1770.    Hansard's  Pari. 
Hist.  xvi.  1154. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


83 


Centuri/j  —  with  such  corrections  and  additions 
as  could  be  gleaned  from  incidental  notices  of 
himself,  to  be  found  in  his  speeches,  and  in  the 
only  two  of  his  works  which  we  have  been  able 
to  meet  with,  and  from  one  or  two  of  the  peri- 
odicals of  his  day.  Like  the  sources  of  our 
information,  our  sketch  must  necessarily  be  mea- 
gre ;  nevertheless,  it  will  be  found  sufficiently 
ample  for  the  immediate  purpose  of  these  pages, 
and  to  indicate  to  the  reader  who  may  be  desir- 
ous of  extending  the  inquiry,  whence  more  cer- 
tain and  minute  information  may  be  obtained. 

The  family  of  Pownall,  or — as  the  name 
was  anciently  called  —  de  Pownall^  or,  still  more 
anciently,  Paganell — appear  to  have  been  known 
in  the  county  of  Cheshire  (England),  as  early  as 
in  the  reign  of  King  Stephen,  when  Avicia  de 
Romelli,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  William  de 
Meschines,  lord  of  Copeland,  and  cousin  of 
Ranulph  de  Meschines,  third  earl  of  Chester, 
married,  for  her  second  husband,  William  Pa- 
ganell,  lord  of  Were ;  and  their  only  daughter 
and  heir,  Alice  Paganell,  married  Robert  de 
Gant,  uncle  and  heir  of  William  de  Gant, 
earl  of  Lincoln.  The  Paganells,  or  Pownalls, 
repeatedly  held  the  high  office  of  chamberlayne 
to  the  kings,^  Edward  II.  and  Edward  III.,  as 


[ansard's  Pari. 


1  "  And  to  this  day  the  county  palatine  of  Cheshire  hath  had 
a  chamberlayne,  who  supplieth  the  place  of  Chancellor,  and  also 
Justices,  before  whom  the  causes  which  of  their  nature  should 


S4 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


earls  of  Chester ;  on  which  account,  in  allusion 
to  their  office  and  their  name,  they  bore  for  a 
crest,  a  lion's  paw,  holding  a  golden  key.  The 
elder  branch  of  the  family,  residing  at  Pownall, 
became  extinct,  in  the  direct  line,  in  1328 ;  but  a 
younger  branch  was  settled  in  Morley,  within 
the  township  of  Potvnall-Fee^  when,  in  1422,  the 
manor  of  Bolyn  was  divided  between  the  Booths 
and  the  Traffords,  represented  by  Thomas  Pow- 
nall, whose  son,  Humphrey,  removed  to  Wilton 
and  Barnton,  in  the  same  county.  From  Hum- 
phrey, the  second  in  direct  descent,  was  William 
Pownall,  who  died  in  1731,  leaving  issue,  — 

John  Pownall,  born  in  1720;  of  whom  — 
more  hereafter ;  — 

Thomas  Pownall,  born  in  1722  ;  with  whom 
is  our  chief  business  in  these  pages ;  — 

Richard  Pownall,  born  in  1725;  —  he  rose 
to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  army, 
and  died  on  the  26th  of  April,  1811,  highly 
esteemed  for  his  religious,  moral,  and  social 
character ;  —  and 

Pownall,  of  whom  we  can  find  no 

other  notice,  than  that  he  was  a  captain  in  the 
Lincolnshire  militia. 

We  also  find,  in  a  report,  dated  March  5, 
1761,  from  vice-admiral  Saunders,  commander- 


otherwise  belong  respectively  to  the  King's  Bench  and  Common 
Fleas,  are  triable,"  etc.    Ormerod's  Hist,  of  Cheshire. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


85 


in-chief  in  the  Mediterranean,  mention  made  of 
a  Captain  Pownall,  of  His  Majesty's  frigate  the 
Favorite^  having  taken  a  French  privateer,  and 
sent  her  into  Gibraltar.  This  gentleman  mAy, 
possibly,  have  been  another  brother, 

Thomas  Pownall,  the  second  son,  was  born  at 
Lincoln,  and  educated  at  Cambridge.  In  May, 
1745,  he  was  appointed  Secretary  to  the  Lords 
Commissioners  of  trade  and  plantations;  of  which 
board  the  Earl  of  Halifax  was  then,  and  until 
his  appointment  to  the  lord-lieutenancy  of  Ire- 
land, in  March,  1761,  continued  to  be  the  first 
lord.  In  August,  1753,  Sir  Danvers  Osborne, 
Bart.,  was  appointed  governor  of  New  York, 
and  he  was  accompanied  to  his  government  by 
Mr.  Pownall,  as  his  secretary.  Mr.  Pownall  at 
the  same  time  took  with  him,  or  shortly  after  his 
arrival  in  America,  he  received  a  commission,  as 
lieutenant-governor  of  New  Jersey,  to  be  used  in 
case  of  the  decease  of  Mr.  Belcher,  the  then 
governor,  whose  age  and  infirmities  rendered 
that  event  probable  at  an  early  day. 

In  June  and  July,  1754,  Mr.  Pownall  attended 
the  first  Congress  of  deputies  from  all  the  colo- 
nies in  America,  held  at  Albany,  principally  for 
the  purpose  of  persuading  and  engaging  the 
Indians  of  the  five  nations,  and  their  allies,  to 
take  up  the  hatchet,  in  aid  of  the  British  cause, 
against  the  French ;  and  the  following  extract, 
from  the  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Con- 


26 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


gress,  will  show  the  nature  of  a  part  of  his  ser- 
vices, and  the  estimation  in  which  they  were 
held  by  that  body. 

"  (11  July,  1754.)  Certain  proposals  from  Wil- 
liam Johnson,  Esq.,  relative  to  the  six  nations, 
and  for  defeating  the  designs  of  the  French; 
also  certain  considerations  offered  by  Thomas 
Pownall,  Esq.,  towards  a  General  Plan  of  the 
Measures  of  the  English  provinces,  were  read  at 
the  Board. 

"  It  was  thereupon  voted,  that  Mr.  Franklin  ^ 
be  desired  to  give  the  thanks  of  this  Board  to 
the  said  Mr.  Johnson  and  Mr.  Pownall,  and 
desire  them  to  suffer  copies  of  said  papers  to  be 
taken  by  the  Commissioners  of  each  colony  for 
the  consideration  of  their  respective  Govern- 
ments." 2 

Shortly  afterward,  Mr.  Pownall  visited  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  when  he  received  the  appointment 
of  commissioner  to  negotiate  a  union  of  the 
forces  of  that  province,  with  those  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, New  Jersey,  and  New  York,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  carrying  out  a  proposal  for  a  united  ex- 


1  The  afterwards  celebrated  printer,  statesman,  and  philoso- 
pher. 

2  Documentary  History  of  New  York,  vol.  ii.  616.  —  In  1774, 
Gov.  Pownall  wrote,  in  reference  to  these  certain  considerations,  — 
"  This  memorial  was  sent  to  England  with  the  rest  of  the  papers 
of  the  congress ;  the  measure  was  immediately  adopted  by  gov- 
ernment, and  ordered  accordingly  to  be  carried  into  execution  in 
1755 ;  and  it  became,  in  its  effect,  a  decisive  stroke." 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


27 


pedition,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  (provin- 
cial major-general)  Johnson,  against  the  French 
strong-hold  at  Crown  Point.  In  this  negotiation 
he  succeeded ;  and,  as  he  long  afterwards  stated 
in  the  Housfe  of  Commons,  the  enterprise  "  was 
by  the  people  engaged  in  with  that  zeal  which 
gave  example  to  the  rest  of  the  provinces  and 
colonies  concerned ;  and  was  one  of  the  principal 
springs  of  that  spirit  with  which  it  was  carried 
through ; "  and  the  success  of  the  expedition 
"gave  the  first  check  to  the  French  arms,  and 
was  the  first  fruit  of  our  succeeding  glory."  ^ 

Early  in  the  following  year,  1755,  Mr.  Pownall 
returned  to  England,  taking  with  him  a  letter 
from  Major-General  Johnson,  to  the  Lords  Com- 
missioners of  trade  and  plantations,  in  which  the 
following  passage  shows  the  confidential  footing 
on  which  he  stood  with  that  able  man,  in  public 
affairs :  — "  Having  had  my  time  so  entirely 
engaged  here  since  I  had  the  honour  of  your 
Lordship's  commands  to  lay  my  sentiments 
before  you  on  the  plan  of  measures  your  Lord- 
ships propose,  and  being  obliged  to  return  di- 
rectly with  the  best  expedition  I  can  to  Mount 
Johnson,  I  am  not  able  at  this  juncture  to  an- 
swer your  Lordship's  commands.  I  will  do  it 
as  soon  as  I  am  able.     Permit  me  my  Lords  to 


1  Debate,  May  8,  1770,  —  Hansard's  Parliamentary  History, 
1  vol.  xvi.  984. 


28 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


refer  myself  in  general  on  this  head  to  the  letters 
1  have  had  the  honour  to  write  your  lordships, 
and  in  particular  to  Mr.  Pownall,  who  I  find  is 
going  to  England,  as  he  knows  every  particular 
of  my  sentiments,  and  is  also  perfectly  ac- 
quainted with  Indian  affairs  as  they  stand  con- 
nected with  the  interest  of  the  Continent  and 
his  Majesty's  service."  *  And,  in  reference  to 
the  same  matter,  Mr.  Pownall,  in  a  speech  de- 
livered in  the  House  of  Commons,  in  Febraary, 
1778,  on  Mr.  Burke's  motion  relative  to  the 
military  employment  of  Indians  in  America, 
showed  his  official  connection  with  government, 
as  well  as  his  intimacy  with  General  Johnson, 

at  the  time  in  question  (1754).    " being  in 

a  situation  which  gave  a  right  and  power  to  do 
it,  I  formed,  in  consultation  with  my  friend. 
Colonel,  afterwards  Sir  William,  Johnson,^  the 
plan  of  Indian  administration  and  establishment, 
which  put  the  Indians,  when  employed  in  con- 
junction with  our  troops,  under  such  a  superin- 
tendency  and  lead  as  might  direct  their  opera- 
tions, in  conformity  to  the  laws  of  nations  and 
jura  belli" ^ 

The  creation  of  a  general  superintendent  of 
the  Indians  had  been  suggested  in  Mr.  Pownall's 


1  Doc.  Hist,  of  New  York,  vol.  ii.  647. 

2  He  was  created  a  Baronet,  Nov.  18,  1755. 
B  Hansard,  Pari.  Hist.,  xix.  703. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


29 


plan  of  1754 ;  and  his  suggestion,  together  with 
his  recommendation  of  Major- General  Johnson 
to  fill  that  office,  was,  on  the  14th  of  April,  1755, 
submitted  to  a  council  of  the  Governors  of  sev- 
eral of  the  colonies,  held  at  Alexandria,  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  presided  over  by  General  Braddock 
and  Admiral  Keppel,  the  respective  commanders- 
in-chief  of  the  military  and  naval  forces  in  Amer- 
ica.^ Both  suggestion  and  recommendation 
were  adopted,  and,  in  the  following  October, 
confirmed  by  the  home  government.^ 

In  May,  1756,  we  find  Mr.  Pownall  accom- 
panying Lord  Loudon  to  New  York,  on  the 
appointment  of  that  officer  to  succeed  General 
Braddock  in  the  military  command  in  North 
America.  Whether  he  held  any  official  appoint- 
ment under  his  lordship,  we  have  been  unable 
to  discover;  it  is,  however,  not  unlikely,  that 
[there  was  some  official  or  semi-official  connex- 
lion  between  them.  A  few  months  afterwards, 
Mr.  Pownall  again  visited  England ;  and,  on 
[the  16th  of  February,  1757,  he  was  formally 
jazetted  as  "  Captain  General  and  Governor  in 
[Chief  of  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  in 
Jew  England,  in  the  room  of  William  Shirley, 
Isquire.     He  arrived  at  Halifax,  N.  S.,  on  the 


^  Governor  Pownall  attended  this  council  at  Alexandria  by 
^rder  of  the  Duke  of  Cumberland. 
^  Doc.  Hist,  of  New  York,  vol.  ii.  700. 


30 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


^i 


I 


9th  of  July,  in  the  fleet  commanded  by  Admiral 
Holburne ;  and  at  Boston,  the  seat  of  his  future 
government,  on  the  following  2d  of  August. 
In  about  a  month  afterward,  Mr.  Belcher,  the 
governor  of  New  Jersey,  died;  and  the  com- 
mission of  lieutenant-governor  of  that  province, 
which  Mr.  Pownall  had  received  in  1753,  not 
having  been  revoked,  he  immediately  repaired 
thither,  and  assumed  the  reins  of  government; 
but  the  short  experience  of  three  weeks  convinced 
him  of  the  impracticability  of  retaining,  at  the 
same  time,  the  administration  of  the  governments 
of  both  provinces;  he  therefore  gave  up  New 
Jersey,  and  returned  to  Boston. 

It  is  beyond  the  purport  of  this  sketch,  to  fol- 
low Mr.  Pownall  through  all  the  acts  of  his  gov- 
ernment ;  but,  the  reader  will  be  good  enough  to 
bear  in  mind  the  position  of  the  American  colo- 
nies at  the  period  in  question.  The  treaty  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  France,  concluded  at 
Aix-la-Chapelle  in  October,  1748,  had  partaken, 
in  its  execution,  more  of  the  nature  of  a  tempo- 
rary truce,  than  of  a  final  treaty  of  peace ;  —  for, 
by  not  clearly  defining  the  limits  of  the  several 
neighbouring  settlements  of  the  two  powers,  in 
America,  and  leaving  unallayed  the  rival  exer- 
tions of  the  local  governors  and  chief  traders  to 
secure  a  predominating  influence  over  the  Indian 
tribes,  it  preserved  those  already  long  standing 
and  firuitful  sources  of  bad  feeling  between  their 


Vv 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


31 


respective    colonists    and    local    governments; 
and,  a  like  bad  feeling  having  arisen  between 
i  the  fleets  of  the  two  powers  —  or  rather  —  not 
having  been  suppressed  on  the  conclusion  of  the 
hollow  peace,  but  allowed,  by  a  variety  of  petty 
annoyances,  progressively  to  increase  —  it  event- 
ually, and  while   the  treaty  was  yet  in   force, 
found  vent  in  a  collision  off  Cape  Race,  in  the 
I  spring  of  1755,  when  two  French  ships  of  war 
were  captured  by  a  like  number  of  English  ships, 
I  detached  from  the  fleet  under  Admiral  Boscawen. 
A  long  course  of  crimination  and  recrimination 
ensued,  and  resulted  in  the  publication  of  formal 
I  declarations  of  war  by  the   respective   govern- 
I  ments,  in  May  and  June,  1756,  which  put  an  end 
to  that  state  of  uncertain  certainty  of  war,  in 
which  their  respective  subjects  in  America  had 
[been  long  kept,  and  which  was  more  irritative 
land  demoralizing  than  avowed  and  actual  war- 
Ifare. 

The  commencement  then  of  Mr.  PownalPs 
government  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  August 
)f  the  following  year,  was  in  the  midst  of  an 
jxcitement  that  required  a  mind  of  more  than 
jommon  strength  and  prudence  to  attemper  and 
lirect ;  —  an  excitement  —  be  it  also  observed  — 
);hat,  at  the  moment,  was  under  less  than  ordi- 
lary  control,  inasmuch  as  the  people  of  the  pro- 
vince were  labouring  under  the  exasperating 
effects  of  a  series  of  misfortunes,  commencing 


I.i  : 


32 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


with  the  capitulation  to  the  Marqui?  de  Mont- 
calm, on  the  14th  of  August  in  the  preceding 
year,  of  Fort  Oswego,  with  its  one  hundred 
guns,  and  garrison  of  sixteen  hundred  men, — 
whereby  the  French  not  only  obtained  the  mas- 
tery on  the  lakes,  but  obliged  us  to  abandon  aJU 
the  country  of  the  five  nations,  the  only  body 
of  Indians  who  had  preserved  even  the  appear- 
ance of  friendship  towards  us ;  ^  succeeded  by 
the  surrender  to  the  same  marquis,  on  the  9th 
of  August,  1757,  of  Fort  William  Henry,  on  Lake 
Georg^,  with  its  garrison  of  two  thousand  five 
hundred  men,  who  engaged  not  to  serve  against 
the  French  during  the  next  eighteen  months,  but 
who,  in  defiance  of  the  usages  of  war,  were,  on 
their  march  to  Fort  Edward,  subjected  to  a 
thousand  barbarities  by  the  Indian  aUies  of  the 
French ;  —  and  these  disasters  also,  immediately 
followed  up  by  the  abandonment  of  the  expedi- 
tion against  Louisbourg,  under  the  command  of 
the  Earl  of  Loudon ;  an  expedition  in  which  the 
colonists  had  taken  the  most  active  interest,  and 
of  the  successful  result  of  which  they  had  enter- 
tained the  most  sanguine  hopes.  "And  thus," 
says  an  annalist  of  that  day,  "  was  finished  the 


1  The  loss  of  Oswego  was  characterized,  by  Sir  W.  Johnson, 
as  "a  mortal  wound;  as  that  post  was  both  a  curb  upon  the 
upper  nations  (of  Indians,)  to  retain  them  in  our  interest,  and  a 
security  for  them  against  the  enemy,  should  they  act  in  our 
fevour."  —  Doc.  Hist,  of  New  York,  vol.  ii.  748. 


JUKIUS  DISOOVERED. 


33 


third  campaign  in  North  America,  where  we  had 
actually  20,000  regular  troops,  and  a  great  naval 
power  of  upwards  of  twenty  ships  of  the  line." 
Governor  Pownall  showed  himself  equal  to  the 
task  assigned  to  him ;  not  only  in  fulfilling  the 
ordinary  duties  of  a  civil  governor,  but  those 
wherein  the  necessity  of  the  times  obliged  him 
to  exercise  the  —  to  him  —  less  familiar  powers 
of  a  military  commander.  "  His  first  step  "  — 
says  his  contemporary,  Hutchinson,  —  "  was  the 
creation  of  a  new  officer  not  known  in  the  pro- 
vince before ;  and  Sir  William  Pepperel  received 
a  commission  as  lieutenant-general  over  all  the 
militia  throughout  the  province.  Orders  were 
then  issued  by  the  governor  to  the  colonels  of  the 
several  regiments  through  the  province,  to  cause 
every  man  to  be  completely  furnished  with  arms 
and  ammunition  according  to  law ;  to  hold  him- 
self in  readiness  to  march  at  a  minute's  warn- 
ing ;  and  to  observe  the  orders  of  Sir  William 

Pepperel The   governor,    by    advice    of 

council,  issued  orders,  that  the  several  troops  of 
horse,  and  one-fourth  pait  of  all  the  regiments  of 
foot,  ....  should  be  drawn  out  immediately 
for  the  protection  of  the  province,  and  for  the  aid 
and  assistance  of  his  Majesty's  forces.  A  train 
of  artillery  was  also  ordi^SmSBkd^g^if^i  and 
a  regiment  of  artillen^tj^oe  J3jgHg||^yl^mi^rar^ 

nor  proposed  to  man;h  Bf^liffnf fOU'E^^V^^ 

command  of  the  forwi  qJLth^rpiiiiinirej  aii^his 


34 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


ii! 


company  of  cadets  had  orders  to  be  ready  to 
attend  him :  "  ^  —  and,  if  the  governor  of  the 
province  had  not  shown  decidedly,  that  his  heart 
was  in  the  work  —  that,  in  fact,  he  was  in  earnest,^ 
he  himself  could  not  —  as  he  afterward  did,  in 
the  Hotlse  of  Commons  —  modestly  —  for  he 
made  no  allusion  to  his  own  pars  mag'na  in  the 
matter  —  "bear  testimony  to  the  spirit  with 
which  they  (the  people  of  Massachusetts  Bay) 
set  the  example  to  the  whole  continent  of  Amer- 
ica, in  raising  troops  at  the  requisition  of  the 
crowji,  to  join  his  Majesty's  forces  in  the  service 
of  this  country,"  —  adding,  in  exemplification  - 
"They  were  required  to  raise  but  2,300,  as  a 
quota  of  7,000  men ;  but  such  was  their  zeal, 
that,  instead  of  2,300,  a  quota  of  7,000,  they 
raised,  armed,  clothed,  and  paid  7,000,  as  their 
own  quota ;  and  kept  up  this  number  of  men 
effective,  during  the  whole  war,  as  the  certificates 
of  the  commanders-in-chief  have  manifested; 
besides  manning  and  arming  their  own  forts,  at 
their  own  expense,  upon  the  borders  of  this  fron- 
tier province.  They  kept  up  also  a  twenty-gun 
ship  of  war,  and  an  armed  sloop  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  trade  in  those  seas.  Ever  attentive 
and  ready  to  comply  with  the  requisitions  of  the 
Crown,  they  did,  upon  such  desire  being  signified 
to  them,  raise  300  of  their  best  seamen,  and  send 


1  Hutchinson's  Mass.  Bay,  from  1749  to  1774,  p.  59. 
3  Junius,  Misc.  Letter  liv.  vol.  iii.  202. 


\ii 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


30 


them  to  recruit  his  Majesty's  navy :  the  bounty- 
money  and  pay  being  their  own  expense.  And 
for  these  expenses,  they  raised  during  the  war, 
^80,000  ;?er  annum:' ^ 

The  seasons  of  practicable  warfare  (from  April 
to  November)  of  the  years  1757, 1758,  and  1759, 


1  Hansard's  Pari.  Hist.  xvi.  985.  Debate  on  8th  May,  1770. 
In  continuing  the  quoted  speech,  Governor  Pownall  made  a 
statement  so  exhibitivo  of  the  loyalty  and  good-feeling  of  the 
people  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  toward  the  mother-country,  at  the 
period  referred  to,  and  so  worthy  of  being  recalled  to  mind  at  the 
present  moment,  when  England  is  rousing  hersd/to  the  necessity  of  being 
prepared  to  repel  foreign  invasion,  that  an  apology  will  scarcely 
be  deemed  requisite  for  introducing  it  in  a  note  :  —  "  There  is 
another  service,"  continued  the  Governor,  "  which,  though  the 
occasion  never  called  for  it,  yet  was  in  intention ;  and  from  the 
weight  and  influence  of  those  who  were  consulted,  and  knew  the 
spirit  of  the  people,  I  may  venture  to  say,  would  have  been  per< 
formed.  Hand  incerta  pro  certa  habeo.  I  speak  of  what  was 
plotted  and  set  down.  When  it  was  appiehended  that  the 
French  might  invade  England,  and  land  a  body  of  troops  in  it, 
there  was  a  design  amongst  those  who  had  an  authority  and  lead 
with  the  people  there,  and  who  would  have  been  able  to  have  led 
them  into  the  execution  of  it,  to  propose  bringing  over  to  this 
country  a  body  of  men  to  the  assistance  of  the  mother-country, 
which  they  call  their  home ;  and  if  the  French  had  actually  landed 
any  troops  on  English  ground,  this  disaffected,  this  disloyal 
people,  would  have  come  to  the  assistance  of  their  parent  coun- 
try, of  this — their  Aome,  —  the  native  country  of  the  colonies." 
Ere  the  present  generation  has  passed  away,  Protestant  England 
may  yet  be  glad  of  the  assistance  of  her  independent  Protestant 
American  child,  to  repel  an  attack  from  the  combined  powers  of 
Roman  Catholic  Europe,  which  many  serious-minded  men  already 
see  approaching. 


36 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


having  been  thus  occupied  by  the  people  of 
Massachusetts  Bay,  it  cannot  excite  surprise 
that  their  energetic  and  intelligent  governor 
and  guide  should  acquire  a  tolerably  extensive 
knowledge  of  the  details,  as  well  as  of  the  gen- 
eral requirements,  of  the  military  profession ;  a 
knowledge  too,  which  his  mind  must  have  been 
well  prepared  to  receive,  from  his  previous  train- 
ing in  a  public  office,  followed  by  an  intimate 
association  with  the  higher  classes  of  men  in  the 
regular  military  service. 

But  the  direction  of  Governor  Pownall's  mind 
to  the  study  of  military  matters,  takes  an  earlier 
date,  and  a  more  extended  field  of  action,  than 
his  governorship  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  as  we 
shall  now  proceed  to  show;  pre-intimating  to 
the  reader,  that  our  doing  so  will  lead  him  to 
the  first  link  in  the  chain  of  evidence  by  which 
we  propose  connecting  Governor  Pownall  with 
the  authorship  of  the  Letters  of  Junius. 

This  part  of  our  subject  we  find  so  well  con- 
densed in  the  fifteenth  chapter  of  "  Hawkins's 
Picture  of  Quebec^  with  historical  recollections^* 
that  we  extract  it  thence,  in  preference  to  sub- 
mitting it  to  the  reader  in  our  own  homely  style; 
and  we  do  so  the  more  readily,  as  we  have  good 
reason  for  believing,  that  this  particular  chapter 
was  the  production  of  the  able  pen  of  our  es- 
teemed, and  truly  learned  friend,  Adam  Thom, 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


37 


Esquire,  for  many  years  Recorder  of  Rupert's 
Land.^ 

After  stating,  that  there  had  been  no  attack 
of  Canada,  by  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  since  the 
unfortunate  expedition  of  1711,  while  the  va- 
rious attempts  by  Lake  Champlain  had  been 
foiled  by  the  bravery,  vigilance,  and  good  fortune 
of  the  French  commanders,  who  were  far  supe- 
rior in  the  mode  of  warfare  required  ;  and  that, 
in  1759,  it  was  determined  once  more  to  com- 
bine naval  with  military  operations;  and  to 
found  upon  the  plans  of  1690  and  1711,  a  better 
combination,  and  a  more  extended  system  of 
attack,  the  writer  proceeds :  — 

"  The  first  idea  of  the  combined  operations  of 
1759  must  be  referred  to  the  convention  at 
Albany,  in  1754.  Mr.  Pownall,  afterwards 
Captain-General  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  whence 
he  was  removed  to  the  Government  of  South 
Carolina,^  w^as  present  at  this  assembly;  and 
laid  before  the  Commissioners  several  valuable 
memorials  on  the  subject  of  the  colonies.     He 

1  The  work  referred  to  was  published  at  Quebec,  in  1834,  and 
I  has,  long  since,  been  out  of  print.  The  greater  part  of  the  other 
[■chapters  of  the  book  were  from  the  accomplished  pen  of  the  late 
I  John  Charlton  Fisher,  Esquire,  LL.D.  There  are  few  works,  of 
[that  description,  more  worthy  of  being  republished ;  or  that,  of 
[late,  have  been  more  frequently  sought  for. 

2  He  was  appointed  to,  but  never  assumed,  the  reins  of  that 
Igovemment. 


38 


JUNIUS   DISCOVEKED. 


also  transmitted,  in  1754  and  17e55,  to  the  Earl 
of  Halifax,  then  Secretary  of  State,*  various 
letters,  proposing  a  general  plan  of  operations 
founded  upon  the  nature  of  the  service  in  North 
America.  These  are  still  extant,  and  are  docu- 
ments of  preeminent  ability,  full  of  practical 
wisdom  and  deep  combinations.  The  king  hav- 
ing united  the  service  in  the  colonies  into  one 
power  of  action,  and  under  one  direction,  by 
appointing  a  commander-in-chief  over  all  North 
America,  Mr.  Pownall  afterwards  condensed  the 
substance  of  these  letters  into  a  memorial,  by 
order  of  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  and  presented 
it  to  His  Royal  Highness,  on  arriving  in  Eng- 
land in  1756.  Mr.  Pownall  then  proposed  to 
the  Earl  of  Halifax, —  ' That,  as  the  English 
had  been  repeatedly  disappointed  in  their  at- 
tempts to  penetrate  the  country  by  the  way  of 
Crown  Point  and  Lake  Champlain,  and  had 
lost  Oswego  and  the  command  of  the  Lake 
Ontario,  —  considering  the  reason  there  was 
also  to  expect  the  defection  of  the  Indians  in 
consequence  thereof;  there  remained  no  other 
alternative,  but  either  to  make  peace,  or  to 
change  the  object  of  the  war,  by  making  a  direct 
attack  up  the  river  St.  Lawrence  upon  Quebec 


1  Lord  Halifax  was  then  the  first  of  the  lords  commissioners  of 
trade  and  plantations.  He  was  not  made  Secretary  of  State, 
until  October,  1762. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


39 


itself,  urged  to  a  radical  destruction  of  Canada.* 
He  recommended  the  necessity  of  two  fleets, 
and  two  armies,  one  for  the  attack  of  the  river 
St.  Lawrence,  the  other  to  take  post  between 
Albany  and  Montreal,  so  as  to  cover  the  Eng- 
lish colonies.  One  of  the  fleets  to  escort  and 
convey  the  army  up  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  and 
the  other  to  cover  and  protect  the  sea  line  of  the 
colonies.  Nothing  was  done,  however,  with 
reference  to  this  plan,  in  1757 ;  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  the  naval  operations  were  limited 
to  the  capture  of  Louisbourg. 

"  We  learn  from  Governor  Pownall's  papers, 
that  so  far  back  as  1678,  the  French  had  a  brig- 
antine  of  ten  tons  on  Lake  Ontario,  and  in  the 
year  following,  a  vessel  of  sixty  tons  upon  Lake 
Erie.  He  gives  an  admirable  account  of  the 
system  by  which  the  French  acquired  and  main- 
tained their  influence  over  the  Indian  nations  — 
th6ir  policy  in  building  forts  —  and  makes  a  dis- 
tinction between  the  English  and  French  settle- 
ments, which  is  somewhat  curious.  He  speaks 
of  the  English  lands  as  settlements,  and  of  the 
French,  as  possessions :  the  English  having 
merely  settled  without  possession,  as  farmers, 
millers,  and  fishermen  —  whereas  the  French 
made  not  only  actual  settlement,  but  took  mili- 
tary possession  and  the  command  of  the  country. 
Governor  Pownall  gives  a  list  of  the  French  forts, 
and  estimates  the  number  of  troops  in  the  differ- 


40 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


ent  posts  in  Louisiana  at  two  thousand 

We  find,  also,  that  in  consequence  of  his  recom- 
mendation, that  valuable  species  of  force,  called 

*  Light  Infantry,'  was  first  employed  in  Amer- 
ica, in  the  year  1757.  It  was  originally  com- 
posed of  provincials,  and  its  use  and  qualities  in 
American  warfare  are  admirably  described. 

"  In  the  year  1758,  Governor  Pownall  addressed 
to  Mr.  Pitt  a  letter,  dated  at  Boston,  December 
5th,  intituled,  an  '  Idea  of  the  service  in  America 
for  the  year  1759,'  from  which  we  extract  the 
following  remarkable  passages,  showing  the  ex- 
tent of  his  information,  and  how  nearly  the 
event  corresponded  with  his  recommendations. 

*  If  we  have  changed  the  point,  and  brought  it 
to  its  true  issue,  its  natural  crisis,  whether  we, 
as  provinces  of  Great  Britain,  or  Canada  as  the 
province  of  France,  shall  be  superior  in  America ; 

*  then  the  service  to  be  done,  is  a  general  invasion 
ofCanuday  in  conjunction  with  the  European  troops 
and  fleet;  then  is  our  national  strength  employed, 
and  we  must  consequently  be  naturally  superior. 
....  The  road  to  Quebec,  up  the  St.  Law- 
rence River,  we  possess  by  superiority  of  our 
marine  navigation.  There  is  neither  danger,  nor 
difficulty,  nor  do  I  see  how  there  can  be  any  oppo- 
sition to  hinder  the  fleet  getting  up  to  the  Isle  of 
Orleans ;  and  a  superior  army  in  the  possession 
of  that,  may,  by  proper  measures,  command  the 
rest  of  the  way  to   Quebec.     If  our  army  can 


JUNIUS   DISGOVERE]>. 


41 


once  set  down  before  Quebec,  it  must  take  it : 
If  Quebec  be  taken,  the  capitulation  may  at  least 
strip  Canada  of  all  the  regulars,  after  which  the 
inhabitants  might  possibly  be  induced  to  sur- 
render  But   although   this   attempt   on 

Quebec,  by  way  of  the  St.  Lawrence  River, 
may  be  the  only  real,  and  will  be  the  only 
effectual  attack  on  Canada ;  yet  one  other,  if  not 
two  false  attacks  will  be  necessary,  one  by  way 
of  Lake  Champlain^  the  other  by  vmy  of  Lake 
Ontario.  That  by  way  of  Lake  Champlain,  may, 
as  far  as  Crown  Pointy  be  offensive  ;  and  should 
then  change  into  a  defensive  measure,  by  taking 
strong  post  there A  number  of  provin- 
cials will  certainly  be  necessary,  and  these  such 
as  are  used  to  the  water,  and  marine  navigation ; 
for  such  will  be  of  the  most  essential  service  in 
the  passage  of  the  army  from  the  lower  end  of  the 
Isle  of  Orleans  to  Quebec^  where  most  of  the  diffi' 
culty  and  danger  tvill  lieJ' 

"  The  result  of  the  campaign  proved  the  fore- 
sight of  Governor  Pownall.  Quebec  was  taken 
as  soon  as  the  army,  by  the  glorious  battle  of  the 
Plains,  was  enabled  to  sit  down  before  it ;  and 
the  operations  of  General  Amherst  were  limited, 
during  the  campaign  of  1759,  to  the  capture  of 
Crown  Point,  which  he  fortified  and  made  a  de- 
fensive post." 

On  the  subsequent  publication,  in  the  year 
1764,  of  the  letter  to  Mr.  Pitt,  from  which  these 


42 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


extracts  are  taken,  Governor  Pownall  appended 
to  it  the  following  summary  of  the  successful 
issue  of  so  much  of  his  plan  as  had  been 
adopted  and  acted  upon,  and  pointed  out  the 
great  risk  that  had  been  incurred  in  not  adopt* 
ing  the  remainder:  — 

"  The  reader  is  here  desired  to  refer  to  the 
events  of  the  year  1759,  in  America : 

"  Quebec  was  taken  by  General  Townshend, 
the  moment  that  the  army  was  enabled  to  set 
down  before  it,  by  the  greatly  hazarded,  and  glo- 
riously successful  stroke  of  General  Wolfe. 

"  The  operations  of  the  army  under  General 
Amherst,  could  npt,  by  all  the  skill  and  deter- 
mined perseverance  of  that  excellent  officer,  be 
pushed  further  than  Crown  Point,  and  there 
became  defensive  by  fortifying  that  point. 

"  The  operations  up  the  Mohawk  River,  and 
on  Lake  Ontario,  were  carried  just  to  that  effect 
which  opened  the  way  for  the  next  campaign,  in 
1760,  when  General  Amherst  went  that  way  to 
take  possession  of  Canada. 


"  The  whole  fleet  was  taken  up  the  river  St. 
Lawrence ;  where,  as  General  Wolfe  expressly 
declares,  it  was  a  part  of  the  force  least  adapted 
to  the  object:  the  sea-line  of  the  colonies  was 
left  uncovered  and  open.  If  the  French  had  had 
sense  enough  to  have  sent  two  ships  of  the  line, 
with  a  frigate  or  two,  and  one  or  two  bomb- 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


43 


ketches,  they  might  have  burnt  Halifax,  Boston, 
New  York,  or  Philadelphia,  without  interruption; 
or  even  if  such  measure  had  not  been  carried  to 
that  degree  of  success,  they  might  have  raised 
such  an  alarm  as  should  have  broken  up  some 
of  our  active,  offensive  operations,  in  order  to 
come  to  the  defence  of  this  sea  line ;  and,  per- 
haps, thus  the  whole  of  the  operations  of  1759, 
have  been  disconcerted  and  defeated.  To  in- 
quire why  this  war  done,  would  at  this  time 
become  a  mere  criii  •  for  as,  by  good  luck,  no 
such  accident  happt  >  ^ ,  it  is  right  that  success 
should  justify  every  measure."  ^ 

The  following  extract  from  a  speech  of  Gov- 
ernor Pownall,  delivered  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, in  March,  1778,  in  reference  to  this  subject, 
may  not  be  deemed  uninteresting,  nor  yet  mis- 
placed, although  its  date  is  somewhat  in  antici- 
pation of  the  order  of  events.  —  "  I  remember  the 
time,  and  a  very  critical  one,  too,  in  the  last  war, 
in  actual  time  of  war,  when  for  several  days 
there  was  no  minister  in  this  country.  When, 
in  the  year  1756,  I  came  over  from  America, 
with  the  plan  and  proposal  of  changing  the 
object  of  the  war,  by  making  a  direct  attack  on 
Canada,  commenced  by  the  siege  of  Quebec,  I 
was  in  town  for  several  days,  without  anybody 
being  able  to  tell  me  to  whom  I  was  to  address 


Appendix  to  Admin'n  of  the  Colonies,  4th  edition,  p.  6Q 


44 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


myself.  Mr.  Fox  was  just  then  gone  out,  and  no 
successor  was  as  yet  fixed  upon.  At  last  I  had 
the  pleasure  to  find  that  Mr.  Pitt  became  the 
minister;  and  from  that  happy  moment  com- 
menced the  era  of  all  the  successes  and  glories 

of  the  last  war The  share  I  had  last  war 

in  the  plans,  as  well  as  execution^  of  the  measures 
in  America,  give  me  some  right  to  speak  with 
confidence;  and  I  shall  speak  out  without  re- 
serve. Those  who  never  knew,  or  those  who 
have  forgotten  my  services,  may  see  all  that  I 
say,  and  perhaps  more,  justified,  by  referring  to 
the  Secretary  of  State's  office,  or  the  Board  of 
Trade."  i 

On  recollecting  that  the  plan  alluded  to  origi- 
nated with  Governor  Pownall,  in  1754,  and 
was  modified  and  took  the  shape  of  a  "  general 
plan  of  operations,"  by  order  of  the  Duke  of 
Cumberland,  to  whom  it  was  presented  by  its 
author,  in  the  autumn  of  1756,^  that  in  the  fol- 
lowing May,  a  fleet,  consisting  of  sixteen  sail  of 
the  line,  and  fifty  transports,  conveying  six  thou- 
sand troops,  sailed  for  Halifax,  there  to  meet  an 
equal  number  of  troops  from  New  York,  and  all, 
under  the  command  of  the  Earl  of  Loudon, 
destined  to  undertake  the  siege  of  Louisbourg, 
in  Cape  Breton,  as  preliminary  to  the  carrying 
out  of  the  "  general  plan  of  operations  "  against 


1  Hansard's  Pari.  Hist.  xix.  942. 

^  Appendix  to  Adm.  of  the  Colonies,  p.  2. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


45 


Quebec  and  Canada,  wb^ch  had  been  adopted 
by  the  ministry,  —  and  that  Governor  Pownall 
was  sent  out,  in  the  same  fleet,  with  the  appoint- 
I  ment  of  Captain-General  and  Governor-in-chief 
I  of  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  —  that  the 
great  strength  of  Louisbourg,  and  the  presence 
of  a  French  fleet,  superior  in  strength  to   our 
[own,  caused  the  postponement  of  the  expedition 
to  the  following  summer,  when  it  was  resumed, 
and  resulted  in  the  capitulation  (26th  July)  of 
Louisbourg,  together  with  the  islands  of  Cape 
Breton  and   St.  John,  —  and  that  towards  the 
close  of  the  year  (1758)  the  "  general  plan  of 
operations,"  in    a  more   succinct   and   definite 
(form,  was    again   submitted  to    Mr.   Pitt,  the 
[prime  minister,  (at  his  own  instance  it  may  be 
[presumed,)  and  made  the  basis  of  the  instruc- 
tions for  the  subsequent  operations  in  America, 
re  thiqk  we  are  justified  in  surmising,  that  the 
governorship  of  Massachusetts   Bay  was  con- 
ferred upon    Mr.    Pownall    with    the  view  of 
)lacing  him  in  a  position  of  eminence,  whence 
le  might  see  his  general  plan,  in  so  far  as  it  had 
)een  adopted,  properly  carried  out,  and  where 
Recourse  to  him  for  explanation,  and  as  being 
)ossessed  of  the  views  of  the  prime  minister  on 
le  subject,  could  at  all  times  be  readily  had,  by 
le  leaders  to  whom  the  immediate  direction  of 
le  enterprise  was  intrusted. 
The  surrender  of  Quebec,  in  September,  1759, 


1 

1:^ 

1 

1 

B 

B 

Wi 

46 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


added  to  the  previous  loss  of  Cape  Breton  and 
St.  John,  and  other  disasters,  which,  within  the 
same  period,  in  other  parts  of  America,  at  sea, 
and  on  the  continent  of  Europe,  befell  the  French, 
crippled  their  strength,  and  their  resources,  to 
such  a  degree  as  to  render  the  completion  of  the 
conquest  of  Canada,  a  matter  of  comparative 
ease,  and  eventual  certainty;  and  the  special, 
though  not  ostensible  object  of  Governor  Pow- 
nail's  mission  in  America,  at  the  particular  pe- 
riod in  question,  was  accomplished.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1760,  he  received  intimation  of  his  appoint- 
ment to  the  more  lucrative  government  of  South 
Carolina ;  notwithstanding  which,  he  continued 
in  the  government  of  Massachusetts  Bay  until 
the  third  of  June,  when  he  sailed  from  Boston 
for  England.^  That  his  administration  of  that 
government  met  with  the  approval  of  the  home 
cabinet,  may  be  fairly  assumed  from  the  follow- 

1  As  Governor  Pownall  assumed  the  title  of  Governor,  but 
never  the  reins  of  the  government  of  South  Cardina,  it  appears 
probable,  that  the  appointment  was  conferred  upon  him  in  like 
manner,  and  for  the  same  reason,  as  was  that  of  the  government 
of  Virginia  upon  Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst,  namely,  —  "  As  a  reward 
and  a  standing  testimonial  of  the  great  services  he  had  done  in 
America  during  the  late  war ; "  {Annual  Register  for  1769,  p.  62.) 
Or,  as  Junius,  under  the  signature  Lucius,  alleged,  that  Mr.  Pitt, 
the  Secretary  of  State,  had,  by  letter,  "  assured  Sir  Jeffrey  Am- 
herst, that  the  government  of  Virginia  was  given  him  merely  as 
a  reward  ....  was  meant  only  as  a  mark  of  his  Majesty's 
favour,"  ....  and  that  "his  residence  should  never  be  re- 
quired."   Vol.  iu.  108, 110. 


.  ) 


JUNIUS  DISOOVBRED. 


47 


ing  passages  in  his  Memorials  to  the  King,  pub- 
j  lished  in  1784 :  —  Writing  in  the  third  person, 
he  says  —  "He  does  not  presume  to  vaunt  of 
his  former  services  in  this   American    line,  al- 
though he  shall  always  be  proud  of  the  approba- 
tion they  received."  1  ....  "When  the  present 
I  Memorialist  was  Governor  of  the  Province  of 
Massachusetts  Bay,  knowing  the  importance  of 
[the  post  of  Penobscot,  he  took  possession  of  it, 
land  built  a  fort  there,  which  the  people  named 
\Fort  Poionall.  ....  He  received  the  gracious 
(approbation  of  his  late  Majesty,  conveyed  to 
(him  by  Mr.  Secretary  Pitt;  so  that  the  impor- 
Itance  of  this  post  hath  not  been  unknown,  and  is 
[not  new  to  government."  ^     And,  in  a  note  in 
[another  place,  alluding  to  his  commissionership 
pn  1754,  and  his  subsequent  governorship,  he  says 
)f  himself — "He  began  his  course  by  learning 
to  serve  them,   (the   people  of   Massachusetts 
lay,)  and  he  afterwards  so  commanded  as  to 
)btain  the  approbation  of  those  whom  he  gov- 
erned, and  the  honourable  testimony  they  bore 
dm."  3    And  again,  —  "  This  is  the  opinion,  and 
ras  the  system  of  a  poor  practical  Governor, 
rho  did  govern  his  Majesty's  provinces ;  this  is 
le  leaf  out  of  his  book,  which  the  late  Earl  of 
[alifax  directed  him  to  give  to  his  successor, 


^  P.  32.  2  p.  40. 

'  Note  to  Memorial  to  the  Sovereigns  of  America,  p.  7. 


48 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


M 


r 


u 


I, 


Sir  Francis  Bernard,  that  he  might  govern  them 
as  well  as  they  had  been  governed  by  the  for- 
gotten servant  who  writes  this."^  We  add, 
from  the  same  Memorial^  an  incidental  refer- 
ence, tending  to  support  our  position  as  to  Gov- 
ernor Pownall's  knowledge  of  military  matters  : 
— "  Your  Memorialist  having  been  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Crown  during  the  last  war  in  Amer- 
ica, in  characters  wherein  it  was  his  duty  to  be 
informed  of,  and  to  study  these  objects ;  wherein 
it  was  his  duty  to  give  his  opinion  on  military 
operations;  wherein  his  opinions  were  formerly 
adopted;  most  .  .  .  .  "^ 

And  here,  having  arrived  at  a  marked  epoch 
in  the  life  we  are  endeavouring  to  trace,  at  which 
it  appears  almost  necessary  to  pause,  we  present 
to  the  reader  an  extract,  which,  while  it  confirms 
our  view  of  Governor  Pownall's  ability  in  the 
art  of  governing,  gives  the  only  description  we 
have  yet  met  with,  from  which  any  thing  like  a 
fair  opinion  of  his  character  and  manners,  in  social 
life,  antecedent  to  the  appearance  of  the  letters, 
can  be  formed;  and  will  therefore  afford  addi- 
tional and  proper  material,  for  judging  whether, 
even  at  this  early  period,  there  existed  in  Gover- 
nor Pownall  such  a  combination  of  qualities, 
moral,  political,  and  social,  as  would  be  likely,  in 
the  course  of  a  few  more  years,  to  mature  into  the 


1  MfM'  to  the  ISng,  Appendix,  p.  54.         ^  lb.  p.  33. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVEREIK 


49 


great  nominis  umbra.  The  extract  is  taken  from 
the  second  volume  of  a  Continuation  of  Gover- 
nor Hutchinson's  History  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 
by  George  Richards  Minot,  of  Boston.*  The 
learned  judge  thus  closes  his  sketch  of  Governor 
Pownall's  administration  of  the  government  of 
that  province :  — 

"  Governor  Pownall  being  appointed  to  the 
command  of  South  Carolina,  with  a  more  ad- 
vantageous salary,  he  prepared  to  return  to  Eng- 
land, with  permission,  previously  to  his  entering 
upon  the  duties  of  his  new  commission.  His 
administration  had  been  short,  but  extremely 
successful.  He  saw  the  prevailing  feelings  and 
habits  of  the  people,  and  realizing  that  his  future 
advancement  might  depend  much  upon  the 
reputation  which  he  might  acquire  in  Massa- 
chusetts, he  accommodated  his  measures  to  them 
with  such  address,  that  he  was  even  exempted 
from  exceptions  to  appearances  in  his  personal 
conduct,  which  would  have  been  highly  censur- 
able, according  to  the  strict  notions  of  the  times, 
in  a  less  favourite  character.    The  savings  of  the 


^  The  first  volume  of  Judge  Minot's  work  was  published  in 
Boston  in  1798,  and  the  second  in  1803 ;  the  latter  in  an  incoin> 
plcte  state,  death  having  cut  short  the  life  of  the  learned  author. 
The  narrative  abruptly  terminates  with  a  description  of  the  riots 
in  Boston,  in  August,  1765,  in  the  course  of  which  the  "tri- 
umphant demonocracy  "  destroyed  the  houses  of  Lieutenant-Gov* 
emor  Hutchinson  and  others. 


P! 


i 


50 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


public  money,  which  he  made  by  his  exertions 
rendered  him  justly  popular  in  a  Province,  where 
the  want  of  affluence  could  be  supplied  only  by 
industry.  He  effected  this  by  the  greatest  at- 
tention to  the  dispatch  of  public  business,  which 
shortened  the  sessions  of  the  General  Court,  and 
of  course  reduced  the  drafts  on  the  treasury  for 
the  pay  of  the  members.  He  lessened  the  ad- 
vances of  the  Province  by  uniting  with  them  the 
allowance  of  the  crown  for  mileage-money  to  the 
soldiers ;  and  his  manner  of  building  the  fort  at 
Penobscot  was  a  master-piece  of  political  econ- 
omy. He  associated  with  an  easy  condescen- 
sion, amongst  those  leaders  in  the  capital,  who 
generally  directed  the  voice  of  the  multitude, 
whilst  he  indulged  his  natural  gaiety  in  the 
politer  ciccles  of  fashion  and  pleasure.  The  im- 
portance of  his  connexions,  and  his  supposed 
influence  in  England,  had  great  weight  with 
those  to  whom  the  public  affairs  of  the  Province 
were  particularly  intrusted;  and  indeed  in  his 
future  parliamentary  conduct  he  showed  himself 
not  unmindful  of  this  respect.  The  concerns 
of  the  war  kept  nearly  out  of  sight  the  great 
controversial  points  respecting  rights  and  prero- 
gative, on  which  the  General  Court  and  former 
Governors  usually  divided ;  and  when  they  came 
up,  as  once  happened  in  the  case  of  stationing 
troops  on  the  frontiers,  he  yielded  to  a,  spirit 
which  it  had  cost  so  much  to  subdue  on  similar 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


51 


occasions,  and  which  he  was  not  ill  adapted  to 
manage  by  apparent  concessions.      It  was  the 
height  of  his  good  fortune  that  the  British  arms 
prevailed  beyond  all  rational  calculation,  which 
cast  a  lustre  on  his  exertions  in  the  military  de- 
partment, and  gave  an  exultation  to  the  people, 
that  naturally  elevated  their  immediate  rulers  in 
their  view.     The  extent  of  his  influence  with  the 
members  of  the  Legislature  is  evidenced  by  their 
respectful  addresses,  and  by  a  compliment  which 
the  majority  of  the  House  paid  him  by  oflering 
him  a  passage  to   England  in  the  provincial 
frigate,  which  they  had  assigned  for  bringing 
over  the  reimbursement  money  granted  by  Par- 
liament, although  it  was  the  only  vessel  of  force 
that  was  left  to  protect  the  trade.    This  proposal 
however,  was  shown  in  a  remonstrance  of  the 
merchants  "to  the   Council,  to  be  so  hostile  to 
commerce,  and  so  extravagant  as  it  respected  the 
freight  of  the  public  money,  that  the  project  was 
given  up,  by  the  Governor's  declining  the  offer 
and  taking  passage  in  a  private  ship.     When  he 
embarked,  both  Houses  attended  him  in  a  body 
to  his  barge,  and  every  ceremony  was  adopted 
which  could  leave  a  favourable  impression  on  his 
mind." 

Let  it  not  be  said,  that  in  these,  the  earlier 
events  of  Governor  Pownall's  Ufe,  we  have  en- 
tered more  minutely  than  is  necessary  for  the 
ostensible  purpose  of  these  pages: — our  object 


52 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


in  BO  doing  is,  to  show,  that  in  those  very  events 
are  to  be  found  precisely  that  unconscious  and 
gradual  preparation  of  the  mind,  and  that  ac- 
quirement of  particular  branches  of  knowledge, 
which  were  essential  to  the  after-production  of 
the  letters  of  Junius ;  —  letters  which,  "  with  all 
their  blemishes,  will  probu  ly  never  fail  to  find 
a  place  in  the  libraries  of  the  British  scholar  and 
British  statesman;"  and  "but  for  which,"  says 
Dr.  Good,  "  the  Commons  of  England  might  still 
have  been  without  a  knowledge  of  the  transac- 
tions of  the  House  of  Commons,  consisting  of 
their  parliamentary  representatives  —  have  been 
exposed  to  the  absurd  and  obnoxious  harassment 
of  parliamentary  arrests,  upon  a  violation  of  pri- 
vileges undefined  and  incapable  of  being  ap- 
pealed against  —  defrauded  of  their  estates  upon 
an  arbitrary  and  interested  claim  of  the  crown — 
and  deprived  of  the  constitutional  right  of  a  jury 
to  consider  the  question  of  law  as  well  as  of 
fact ; "  *  —  and  which  —  we  may  add,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  Mr.  Britton, — "When  candidly  and 
honestly  viewed,  will  be  found  to  constitute  an 
important  feature,  not  only  in  the  political,  but 
in  the  literary,  the  moral,  and  the  philosophical 
annals  of  the  nation."  * 

We  now  take  up  the  first  connecting  link  be- 
tween Junius  and  Governor  Pownall. 


1  Frel.  Essaj,  vol.  L  8.        *  Junius  Elucidated,  p.  vii. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


53 


Shortly  after  the  reduction  of  Quebec,  Briga- 
dier-General TownBhend  fcturned  to  England; 
and,  in  the  following  summer,  there  appeared  in 
London  an  anonymous  pamphlet,  bearing  the 
title, —  "  A  Letter  to  an  Honourable  Brigadier' 
General,  Commander-in-chief  of  His  Majesty's 
Forces  in  Canada ; "  which  so  severely  reflected 
on  the  conduct  of  General  Townshend,  that  he, 
or  his  friends,  deemed  it  necessary  to  meet  it  by 
the  publication  of  "A  Refutation  of  the  Letter, 
etc. :  —  By  an  Officer ; "  which,  though  devoid  of 
literary  merit,  afterward  passed  through  sev- 
eral editions.  Although  suspicion  was  expressed 
by  a  writer  in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine,  in 
1817,  that  the  Letter^  and  the  subsequently  pub- 
lished letters  of  Junius,  were  indebted  to  the 
same  parent  for  existence,  it  was  never  formally 
ascribed  to  Junius,  until  iy41,  when  Mr.  N.  W. 
Simons,  of  the  British  Museum,  republished  both 
Letter  and  Refutation,  with  a  short,  and  well- 
written  Introduction,  clearly  establishing  the 
genuineness  of  the  former,  as  a  letter  of  the 
great  political  censor ;  so  clearly  indeed,  that  it 
is  now,  almost  universally,  recognized  as  the 
first,  in  the  order  of  time,  of  the  v/ritings  of 
that  extraordinary  man. 

In   1848,  the  "  veteran  Author,"  Mr.  Britton, 


*  Our  futnre  references  to  these  two  pamphlets  shall  be  simply 
to  —  the  Letter,  and  —  the  Befutation. 


54 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


i 


il 


:i 


whose  opinion  of  the  Letter  coincided  with  that 
of  Mr.  Simons,  published  his  ^^Junivs  Elucidated^^ 
in  which  he  very  ingeniously  attempted  to  iden- 
tify Junius  with  the  well-known  Colonel  Isaac 
Barrd,  and  adduced  such  evidence  of  the  gallant 
Colonel's  authorship  of  the  Letter^  as,  at  first 
sight,  to  make  any  attempt  to  controvert  it 
appear  hopeless ;  and,  if  chance  had  not  led  us, 
several  months  before  we  were  aware  of  the  ex- 
istence of  Mr.  Britton's  work,  and  without  giving 
a  thought  to  the  Letter^  to  believe,  that  in  Gov- 
ernor Pownall  we  had  found  the  true  Junius,  we 
should  have  felt  convinced,  and  have  rested  satis- 
fied with  Mr.  Britton's  proofs  and  arguments. 
But  our  conviction  of  the  authorship  of  the  let- 
ters of  Junius  had  not  been  lightly  attained,  nor 
until  after  much  patient  research ;  and  we  could 
not,  therefore,  willingly  abandon  it,  until  a  close 
investigation  of  Mr.  Britton's  theory,  in  so  far  as 
it  was  based  upon  the  Letter,  should  have  de- 
cided the  question  against  us.  We  therefore 
applied  the  tests  of  undoubted  facts  and  dates, 
and  the  result  was  singularly  fortunate,  inasmuch 
as  the  inquiry  —  somewhat  unexpectedly,  be- 
cause, from  oversight,  we  had  not  previously 
paid  any  attention  to  the  Letter  —  led  to  the 
means  of  testing  our  own  theory,  and  giving  it 
such  additional  support  as,  we  have  the  temerity 
to  believe,  will  be  as  convincing  to  the  reader, 
as  it  is  to  ourselves. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


6& 


Our  first  endeavour  will  be,  to  show  that  al- 
though Colonel  Barr^  had  —  and  we  cordially 
admit  it  —  the  ability  to  write  the  Letter^  yet 
that  there  exists  an  improbability,  amounting 
almost  to  an  impossibility,  that  he  could  have 
written  it ;  —  and  our  next,  to  exhibit  such  cir- 
cumstantial evidence  of  its  having  been  written 
by  Governor  Pownall,  as  to  leave  little  or  no 
room  for  doubt  on  the  subject. 

Mr.  Britton,  in  speaking  of  the  action  in  which 
Wolfe  fell,  says  —  "  Major  Barrd  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  face  in  the  same  action,  so  as  to 
destroy  one  eye,  and  ultimately  induce  total 
blindness,"  — "on  the  26th  of  October,  1759, 
Monckton  ....  embarked  at  Quebec  for  New 
York,  ....  Barr^  and  Colonel  Carleton,  (the 
latter  also  being  wounded,)  had  previously  gone 
to  that  city,"  and  "  whilst  at  New  York,  Barr^ 
addressed  a  letter  to  Mr.  Pitt ; "  which  letter  is 
given  at  length,  and  bears  date  "  New  York, 
April  28th,  1760."  i  Now,  Barry's  wounded  eye, 
and  the  coolness  —  if  not  something  worse  — 
which  existed  between  him  and  General  Towns- 
hend,  while  at  Quebec,  preclude  the  probability 
of  his  having  seen  the  despatch  of  the  latter,  of 
the  20th  of  September,  1759,  until  after  it  had 
been  published  in  London,  on  the  17th  of  the 
following  October,  and  had  thence  re-crossed  the 


Junius  Elucidated,  pp.  25  and  26. 


56 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


iM 


Atlantic  to  New  York,  where  —  as  appears  from 
his  own  letter  to  Mr.  Pitt  —  he  had  been  made 
Adjutant- General  to  the  army  under  General 
Amherst ;  a  post  which,  we  may  fairly  presume 
— time,  place,  and  circumstances  being  duly 
considered  —  must  have  left  its  holder  little  lei- 
sure for  lashing  his  quondam  commanding  officer, 
through  the  medium  of  the  public  press  in  Lon- 
don. At  what  particular  date  the  army  left  New 
York,  we  have  been  unable  to  discover ;  but  it 
must  have  been  very  shortly  after  the  date  of 
Barry's  letter  to  Mr.  Pitt,  as  we  find  that  Gen- 
eral Amherst  had  established  his  head-quarters 
at  Albany  before  the  18th  of  May  ;^  —  that  the 
army  left  Schenectady  on  the  21st  of  June, — 
reached  Oswego  on  the  9th  of  the  next  month, 
—  left  the  latter  place  on  the  10th  of  August,  — 
laid  siege  to  —  and,  on  the  25th,  captured  Fort 
Roy  ale,  —  thence  descended  the  river  St.  Law- 
rence, and  laid  siege  to  Montreal,  which  resulted 
in  the  surrender,  by  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil, 
not  only  of  that  city,  but  of  all  Canada,  on  the 
8th  of  September,  17G0.  General  Amherst's 
despatches,  announcing  that  important  event  to 
the  British  ministry,  were  intrusted  to  Colonel 
(then  Major)  Barr^,  who,  three  days  after  the 
capitulation,  sailed  from  Quebec,  in  the  frigate 
Vengeance,  and  reached  London  on  Saturday, 

1  Major  Rogers's  Journal,  p.  172. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


57 


the  4th  of  October,  the  day  before  the  date  — 
and,  we  presume,  two  days  before  the  publication 
of  the  Refutation.  Barr^  could  not  have  written 
the  Letter  before  he  left  New  York,  because  there 
are  in  it  references  to  —  and  quotations  from,  the 
proceedings  and  sentence  of  the  court  martial, 
held  in  London,  for  the  trial  of  Lord  George 
Sackville,  for  misconduct  at  the  battle  of  Min- 
den,  which  sentence  was  first  promulgated,  in 
London,  on  the  26th  of  April ;  while  the  pro- 
ceedings and  evidence  were  not  made  public 
until  some  weeks  afterward,  when  they  were 
published  at  the  instance  of  Lord  George  him- 
self. 

Again  —  in  the  postscript  to  the  Letter^  there  is 
embodied  an  "  advertisement "  of  General  Towns- 
hend,  dated  June  20,  1760,  referring  to  a  para- 
graph which  had  appeared  in  the  London  Daily 
Advertiser  of  the  preceding  day ;  —  the  writer  of 
the  Letter  gives  the  contents  of  that  "  advertise- 
ment," as  his  authority  for  having  asserted,  that  — 
"yow  (General  T.)  were  convinced  Quebec  was 
not  defensible  : "  —  and  further,  the  battles  of 
Erxdorf  and  Warbourg,  fought — respectively 
—  on  the  16th  and  31st  days  of  July,  are  men- 
tioned in  the  Letter;  and  a  quotation  is  also 
given  from  the  London  Gazette  of  the  2d  of 
August,  1760.  From  these  premises,  it  follows  ; 
that  the  Letter  must  have  been  written  and  pub- 
lished, in  London,  after  the  latter  date,  and  before 


58 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


t  i| 


i 


the  5th  of  October,  date  of  the  Refutation.  In 
the  face  of  these  stubborn  facts  and  precise  dates, 
the  assertion  of  the  possibility  of  Colonel  Barrd 
having  been  the  author  of  the  Letter^  can  only 
be  exceeded  in  absurdity  by  a  contention  for  the 
probability  of  his  having  been  so. 

We  turn  now  to  the  inquiry  —  whether  Gov- 
ernor Pownall  could  have  been  its  author  ? 

The  extracts  already  given  from  the  Picture  of 
Quebec  show,  satisfactorily,  that  although  Gov- 
ernor Pownall  was  not  a  soldier  by  profession, 
yet,  as  early  in  life  as  at  the  date  of  the  Letter^ 
he  could  vie  with  military  men  of  high  standing, 
in  that  peculiar  knowledge  which  is  essential  to 
the  formation  of  the  higher  class  of  soldier;  — 
and  when  to  that  knowledge  we  add,  his  long 
and  familiar  intercourse  with  military  men  in 
the  regular  service,  and  the  practical  knowledge 
of  the  minor  details  of  active  military  service, 
which,  of  necessity,  he  must  have  acquired 
during  the  short,  but  warlike  and  eventful  period 
of  his  governorship  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  we 
shall  find  him  possessed  of  all  the  requisite  qual- 
ities, to  enable  him  to  write  the  Letter^  and  to 
breathe  through  it  that  military  tone  which  has 
led  to  the  general  belief,  that  it  could  not  have 
been  written  by  any  one  but  a  soldier:  —  and 
when,  again,  we  add  to  these  qualities,  the  par- 
ticular circumstance  of  his  having  originated  the 
general  plan  of  operations  for  the  invasion  and 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


59 


conquest  of  Canada,  of  which  the  attack  upon 
Quebec,  as  it  was  carried  into  execution,  formed 
an  important  feature,  we  may  well  imagine,  that 
he  not  only  anxiously  watched  the  chief  move- 
ments of  the  army  under  Wolfe,  but  that  he  had 
the  means,  and  used  them  too,  of  obtaining  — 
in  America,  in  the  course  of  the  remainder  of 
his  governorship,  and  —  in  England,  immediately 
after  his  return  thither,  all  those  minute  particu- 
lars of  events  which  occurred  before,  during,  and 
subsequent  to  the  reduction  of  Quebec,  with 
which  the  writer  of  the  Letter  was  undoubtedly 
familiar.  As  General  Monckton,  Colonel  Carle- 
ton,  and  Major  Barr^  withdrew  from  the  cap- 
tured city  of  Quebec,  to  New  York,  until  their 
wounds  were  healed,  there  is  nothing  improbable 
in  the  supposition  that  Governor  Pownall  may 
have  learned  from  them^  many  of  those  little 
anecdotes  of  the  expedition,  and  of  the  parties 
engaged  in  it,  which  could  only  be  gleaned  in 
the  course  of  familiar  verbal  or  epistolary  cor- 
respondence with  persons  who  had  taken  part 
in  it. 

As  already  stated.  Governor  Pownall  sailed 
from  Boston  on  the  3d  of  June,  and  the  Letter 
could  not  have  been  written  and  published  until 
after  the  2d  of  August;  showing — on  the  as- 
sumption of  his  passage  to  England  having  been 
an  ordinary  one  —  that  there  must  have  been 
more  than  ample  tinde,  after  his  arrival  in  Lon- 


»< 


60 


JUNIUS  DISCOVEKEO. 


{ 


don,  for  the  concoction,  printing,  and  publishing 
of  both  Letter  and  Refutation^  so  that  the  latter 
should  be  published  on  the  5th  of  October. 
That  the  author  of  the  latter  suspected  the 
writer  of  the  former  of  having  been  absent  from 
England,  is  evident,  when  he  says — p.  41  —  "  But 
where  has  this  pamphleteer  been  to  find  himself 
under  the  necessity  of  quoting  this  letter  ?  He 
must  not  have  been  in  England,  surely ;  or  must 
not  have  read  the  public  papers,  in  which,  a  little 
time  after  the  news  of  the  taking  of  Quebec, 
appeared  the  annexed  funeral  eulogium,  taken 
from  a  letter  written  by  G[enera]l  T[ownshen]d, 
to  a  friend  in  London."  The  letter  referred  to, 
was  quoted  in  the  Letter^  p.  8,  ^s  one  in  which 
Sir  William  Johnson  had  said,  —  "I  have  only  to 
regret  the  loss  of  General  Prideaux.  I  endeav- 
oured to  pursue  his  vigorous  measures,  the  good 
effects  of  which  he  deserved  to  enjoy."  Now,  it 
is  to  be  remarked,  that  General  Prideaux  was  in 
command  of  the  force  besieging  the  French  fort  at 
Niagara,  when,  on  the  23d  of  July,  1759,  he  was 
killed  by  the  accidental  bursting  of  one  of  his 
own  cohorns,  and  the  further  prosecution  of  the 
siege  devolved  upon  Major- General  Sir  William 
Johnson,  the  commander  of  the  Indian  auxilia- 
ries ;  —  the  letter  of  Sir  William,  referring  to  that 
event,  was  addressed  to  General  Amherst,  the 
Commander-in-chief  of  the  forces  in  America; 
and,  as  it  was  not  published  in  England,  the 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERBD. 


61 


writer  of  the  Letter  must  have  obtained  the 
extract  from  it  either  from  the  latter  or  the 
former.  Either  is  likely,  if  Governor  Pownali 
were  the  author,  on  account  of  the  great  inti- 
macy in  private  life,  and  the  confidential  footing 
in  public  matters,  on  which  he  stood  with  each 
of  them. 

The  facts  which  we  have  thus  alleged  and 
proved,  and  the  inferences  which  may,  legiti- 
mately, be  drawn  from  them,  form  together  a 
mass  of  evidence  so  little  short  of  positive,  that 
we  think  it  will  now  be  as  readily  conceded, 
that,  towards  the  close  of  the  summer  of  1760, 
Governor  Pownali  wrote  the  ^^Letter  to  an  Horir 
Durable  Brigadier-  General,  Commander-in-  Chief 
of  His  Majesty's  forces  in  Canada  "  as  that  it  and 
the  Letters  of  Junius  were  the  productions  of  one 
and  the  same  mind.  In  further  support  of  this 
position,  we  may  a^so  call  the  attention  of  the 
reader  to  a  particular  expression  in  the  Letter, 
which  seems  directly  to  point  to  Governor  Pow- 
nali, as  the  author.  On  page  9,  the  writer  says, 
— "  But  they  must  have  known  very  little  of  the 
expedition  to  Quebec  who  expected  that  you 
would  bear  testimony  to  the  conduct  of  a  Gen- 
eral whose  plan  of  operations  you  had  the 
honour,  both  in  public  and  private,  to  oppose; 
and  against  whose  last  desperate  attempt  you 
protested  in  form."  Besides  showing  an  inti- 
mate knowledge  of  the  preliminary  consultations 


62 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


at  Wolfe's  head-quarters,  this  passage  speaks  of 
the  General's  plan  of  operations  :  —  now,  the 
document  to  which  we  have  already  referred,  as 
having  been  drawn  up  and  presented,  in  1756, 
by  Governor  Pownall,  to  the  Duke  of  Cumber- 
land, was  intituled  —  "A  Memorial  :  stating  the 
nature  of  the  service  in  North  America,  and 
proposing  a  general  plan  of  operations,  as 
founded  thereon ; "  ^  and  in  several  places  in  this 
memorial,  and  in  his  other  writings  relative  to 
the  Colonies,  the  expression  —  a  plan  of  opera- 
tions  —  or,  a  one  plan  of  operations^  is  used. 
Moreover,  —  in  the  Letter,  General  Wolfe's  "  last 
desperate  attempt"  is  spoken  of,  —  an  expres- 
sion which  seems  to  tally  well  with  that  of 
Governor  Pownall  before  quoted,  —  "  the  greatly 
hazarded,  and  gloriously  successful  stroke  of 
General  Wolfe  :  "  —  and,  in  reference  to  the 
"  plan  of  operations "  which  General  Towns- 
hend  "  had  the  honour,  both  in  public  and 
private,  to  oppose,"  we  see  the  foundation  of 
the  bitter  feeling  evinced  by  Junius  —  who, 
beyond  question,  was  a  good  hater  —  towards 
General  Townshend.  Pownall's  ^^  general  plan 
of  operations  "  was,  no  doubt,  known  to  Wolfe, 
although  he  may  not  have  known  PownaU  to 
have  been  the  originator  of  it;  but  Pownall, 
knowing  that  it  had  been  adopted  by  the  Min- 


Appendix  to  Admin,  of  the  Colonies,  p.  1. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


63 


istry,  and  that  Wolfe's  particular  "plan  of 
operations,"  was  but  the  carrying  out  of  the 
chief  feature  of  his  own  general  plan,  must  have 
felt  his  ire  rise,  on  learning,  that  the  opposition 
of  General  Townshend  "  both  in  public  and  in 
private,"  was  likely  to  render  —  or  had  nearly 
rendered — that  general  plan  abortive ;  and  hence 
—  the  Letter  of  1760  was  the  outpouring  of  that 
ire  on  the  first  fitting  opportunity,  after  the  au- 
thor's return  to  England. 

Having  now  re-landed  our  worthy  governor  in 
his  native  country,  and  exhibited  him  in  such 
close  connexion  with  the  earliest  of  the  writings 
of  Junius,  as  —  at  the  least  —  to  raise  in  the 
mind  of  the  most  doubting  reader,  some  faint 
idea  that,  after  all,  our  conjecture  of  the  identity 
of  the  two,  may,  possibly,  be  well  founded ;  we 
resume  the  narrative  of  such  of  the  remaining 
events  of  Governor  Pownall's  life,  as  tend  to 
establish  the  truth  of  our  hypothesis. 

The  energy  and  ability  of  such  a  man  could 
not  be  allowed  to  remain  long  idle ;  and,  accord- 
ingly, we  find  him,  a  few  months  after  his  retirm 
to  England,  foregoing  his  appointment  to  the 
governorship  of  South  Carolina,^  and  accepting, 
with  the  rank  of  colonel,  the  office  of  comptrol- 
ler-general of  the  expenditure  and  accounts  of  the 


1  Thomas  Boone,  Esq.,  was  appointed  Governor  of  South 
Carolina,  April  14, 1761.  • 


64 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


extraordinaries  of  the  combined  army  in  Ger- 
many, under  the  command  of  Prince  Ferdinand, 
of  Brunswick. 

In  this  appointment,  we  find  why  —  in  the 
language  of  Dr.  Good  —  "Junius  appears  to 
have  uniformly  entertained  a  good  opinion  of, 
or  at  least,  a  partiality  for.  Lord  Holland ; "  * 
and  why — in  Junius's  own  words  —  he  should 
"wish  Lord  Holland  may  acquit  himself  with 
honour,"  2  namely,  from  the  charge  of  peculation, 
made  in  the  petition  of  the  city  of  London, 
presented  to  the  King,  July  5, 1769 ;  —  and  why 
Junius  "designedly  spare4  Lord  Holland  and 
his  family."  ^  His  lordship  was  paymaster-gen- 
eral of  the  forces,  from  July  5,  1757,  to  June  8, 
1765 ;  and.  Governor  Pownall,  on  accepting  the 
comptroller-generalship,  became  one  of  his  depu- 
ties, and  bound  to  render  to  him  the  accounts  of 
the  office.  In  Lord  Holland's  ^^ Answer  ^^  to  "06- 
servations  on  the  accounts  of  the  paymaster-gen^ 
era^^  to  be  found  in  the  note  A,  immediately 
after  the  letter  to  Woodfall,  No.  5,  July  21,  1769, 
is  the  following  paragraph ;  —  "  The  accounts  of 
Lord  Holland  for  the  years  1757,  1758,  and 
1759 ;  likewise  the  accounts  of  his  deputies, 
attending  the  army  in  Germany,  from  the  com- 
mencement to  the  end  of  the  late  war,  are  also 

1  Prel.  Essay,  vol.  i.  81,  and  *  174,  note. 

2  Letter  to  Woodfall,  No.  5. 
*  Misc.  Lett.  C,  vol.  iii.  410. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


65 


before  the  auditors  for  their  examination,  and 
his  Lordship's  account  for  the  year  1760,  is  almost 
ready  to  be  delivered  to  them."^  We  learn, 
here,  that  Mr.  Comptroller- General  Pownall's 
accounts  "  to  the  end  of  the  late  war  "  had  been 
transmitted  to  the  auditors  for  examination ; 
and,  from  an  obituary  notice  of  him,  published 
in  the  year  of  his  death,  that  they  had  been 
"  examined  and  passed  with  honour  J^  It  is  not  at 
all  improbable  that  Governor  Pownall  received 
his  appointment  on  the  recommendation  of  Lord 
Holland ;  and  hence,  the  partiality  of  Junius  to 
his  lordship.  We  may  also  well  suppose,  that 
the  great  anxiety  of  Junius  to  remain  unknown, 
would  prohibit  his  entering  upon  the  discussion 
of  any  subject — such  as  that  of  the  public  ac- 
counts of  Lord  Holland,  as  paymaster-general, 
connected  as  they,  necessarily,  must  have  been, 
with  his  own,  as  comptroller-general — that  might 
bring  his  real  name  into  prominence,  and  tend 
to  direct  towards  him  the  attention  of  the  legion 
of  hunters  who  were  in  busy  and  constant  search 
for  the  "  mighty  boar  of  the  forest." 

The  notice  of  Governor  Pownall's  appoint- 
ment, as  comptroller-general,  gives  us  also  occa- 
sion to  explain  a  passage  in  the  Miscellaneous 
Letter  IV.,  dated  Aug.  25, 1767,  which  has  puz- 
zled every  one  who  has  attempted  to  solve  the 


1  Vol.  i.  182. 


00 


JUNIirH   niriCJOVHKKU. 


iTtiiihiH  inyHtrry ;  iiiiil  Iiiih,  in  iiiiuiy,  inductMl  the 
M'w\\  tiiiii  .liuiiuN  iniiHl.  Imvd  Ihtii  ii  iiiciiilM'r 
of  tlir  iiiilitiiry  pnift^Hi^ioii.  Hpciikiii^  of  Lnnl 
()tH)r^«  'rowiiNli(*ii(l  ((li(^  iH'lorrHiKMilioiHMi  l>rif(- 
iuli«*r-^«Mii«nil),  iiikI  liiH  liroilii'r,  (*liiirl(*it,  JitiiiiiH 
HiiyH,  —  *'  I  Hill  not.  II  Htriiii^«>r  to  Miih  par  nohita 
JhUrum,  1  liuvi*  nrrvtul  iiiidcr  tlio  our,  iiiul  liiivo 
htMMi  forty  tiiii<*H  proiiiimMl  to  bf'  nvrvvil  liy  tlir 
otlirr.'**  PiiriidoxUMil  iih  it  iiiiiy  Hrriii  (iiiul  ooii- 
Hulrriii^  tlir  riiiik  of  colonol,  wiiicli  iUM'oiii|miii<Ml 
tht^  nppoiiitiiuMii  of  coiiiptrollor*^i'iirriil,  uh  iiu^rvly 
hononiry  riiiik),  thu  riviliaii'''  C^>vrrMor  i\>wiiiill 
could  properly  uho,  in  itn  militiiry  nciinis  iho 
I'xprt'HHion-—'*  1  ha vo  sdfrrtv/  under  tho  oii«)"  — 
ill  rrfonMiro  to  (Mtlicr  the  iiiilitiiry,  or  ilin  riviliun, 
of  tho  two  broiliorH  TowiihIkmkI.  Not  long  aftur 
Brigadior-Onicral  TownHlitMurH  return  from  (/au- 
ada,  ho  joined  the  alliod  army  in  (Jurmany,  and 
luado  a  campaign  with  it,  undc^r  Priiico  Ferdi- 
nand. During  the  name  campaign,  and  in  the 
name  army,  but  in  a  civil  department.  Governor 
Pownall  starved;  and,  of  course,  in  a«  truly  a  mil- 
itary sense  as  if  he  had  belongi^d  to  the  cornmiB- 
sariat  or  medical  departmentM ;  he  served  under 
General  Townshend,  although  he  might  not  have 
been  under  his  immediate  command.  Thus  much 
for  the  military  brother :  —  now  for  the  civilian. 


I- 

J 


1  Vol.  ii.  469. 

*  Wo  use  tho  wonl  cmlian  in  Uio  sense  which  it  obtains  in  com- 
mon parlance,  and  not  as  meaning  "  ono  skilled  in  civil  law." 


JliNIDH   liIMCOVKRKD. 


67 


»» 


On  <ho  Slth  of  Miircli,  in  tin*  mjiiiih  yiuir,  tin?  Ri^lifc 
lloMoiiriihli*  dliiirlcH  TowiihIm'ihI  wiim  iippoiiitml 
HiM'rrtury  lit  Wnr;  mid  uh,  to  a  (^frtuiri  fxtnit, 
find  in  ii  f^cncnil  niwihc,  thi?  wlioli?  iirtriy  rniiy  \w 
Hiiid  to  Im*  iindrr  tho  dirp(!tion  of— .fuul,  conw?- 
qiicntly,  to  Hftrrn  vnih'r\\\v  Hiurrrtary  at,  War;  mo 
(Micli  in<iividual  of  tlio  army  may,  in  a  grncral 
NiMiHc,  \m  lii'ld  to  nvrvr.  under  him,  although  hi; 
may  hr,  lil<i!  ('haHoH  'Pownnht^nd,  only  advilian, 
Tho  (tivilian  CJovcrnor  Pownall  thi;n,  aH  comp- 
trollor-griaTal,  in  (lormany,  whih;  thn  civilian 
CharlrH  TownHhend  wai«  tSocrotary  at  War,  in 
England,  might,  witlumt  any  groat  Mtrctch  of  con- 
McioniM?,  Hay  —  and  in  a  military  smnc  too  — that 
\wh\u\  served  under  CharloH  Townnhi^nd,  although 
n(Mth(>r  i\u'.  otw,  nor  th»  other  of  them,  waM,  in  a 
Htrict  Hf'nH(?,  a  Boldier :  — -the  former  wa»  q/*— but 
not  in — tho  army,  —  and  the  latter  wan  neither  of 
—  nor  in — but  over  the  army;  and  both  were 
non-combatantH. 

A  conHeqii(!noe  of  the  treaty  of  Paris,  of  Feb. 
10, 1763,  waH,  the  breaking  up  of  the  office  in 
the  army,  in  Gennany,  held  by  Governor  Pow- 
nall,  and.  his  return  to  England;  soon  after  which, 
he  took  up  his  residence  at  Richmond,  where, 
it  will  be  recollected,  the  court  of  George  the 
Third,  was  established  during  the  period  in 
which  Junius,  as  chief  public  political  censor, 
reigned  in  England,  unseen,  unknown,  but  not 
unfelt. 


68 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


Before  retiring  to  Richmond,  Governor  Pow- 
nall  was  ottered,  by  the  ministry,  any  government 
he  pleased  in  America,  if  he  would  return  to 
that  country,  in  that  line  of  service  ;  but,  he  de- 
clined the  otter,  because  he  could  not  agree  with 
them,  that  "  the  surest  way  of  securing  the  de- 
pendence of  the  colonies,  was  an  exercise  of  the 
supremacy  of  Great  Britain,  in  legislative  power, 
external  to  their  will,  and  in  imposing  and  levy- 
ing taxesi,  neither  given  nor  granted  by  their  own 
consent ; "  and  that  "  a  revenue  so  raised  might 
be  applicable,  as  future  occasions  might  require, 
to  the  measures  of  British  politics."^  And,  in 
this  declining  to  go  to  America,  we  find  the 
ground  of  that  passage  in  the  Miscellaneous 
Letter^  LIV.^  signed  Junius,  and  dated,  April 
12,  1769,  in  which  Junius  says  — "  It  is  true,  I 
have  refused  otters  which  a  more  prudent,  or  a 
more  interested  man  would  have  accepted. 
Whether  it  be  simplicity  or  virtue  in  me,  I  can 
only  affirm,  that  /  am  in  earnest ;  because  I  am 
convinced  ....  that  the  present  ministry  are 
driving  this  country  to  destruction."  ^ 

Having  in  vain  urged  upon  the  ministry  his 
peculiar  views  of  Colonial  Government^  he  at 
length  embodied  them  "into  a  treatise  on  the 
subject,  and  published  it  in  the  year  1764,  as  an 
appeal  to  the  sense  of  the  nation  at  large,  under 

1  Greneral  Preface  to  Memorials,  p.  viii.  et  seq. 
a  Vol.  iii.  202. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


69 


the  title  of  The  Administration  of  the  Colonies" 
In  this  treatise  he  endeavoured  to  point  the  way 
of  so  combining  into  one  great  system  the  re- 
ciprocal interests,  political  and  commercial,  of 
the  mother-country  and  her  colonies,  as  "  that 
Great  Britain  may  be  no  more  considered  as  the 
kingdom  of  this  Isle  only^  loith  many  appendages 
of  provinces^  colonies^  settlements^  and  other  ex- 
traneous  parts^  but  as  a  grand  marine  dominion, 

CONSISTING  OF  OUR  POSSESSIONS  IN  THE  ATLANTIC 

AND  IN  America,  united  into  a  one  empire,  in 
a  one  centre,  where  the  seat  of  government 
is."^  The  work  attracted  so  much  attention, 
that  in  1768  it  reached  to  a  fourth  edition,  and 
six  years  afterward  to  a  fifth.  "  The  refusing  to 
go  to  America  on  this  service"  —  wrote  Gov- 
ernor Pownall  twenty  years  afterward  —  "and 
the  publication  of  this  treatise,  ruined  me  with 
those  who  had  the  real  power  of  Government 
in  their  hands.*  I  was  not  ignorant  that  it 
would  have  such  effect.  I  sacrificed  to  what 
I  thought  truth  and  right;  and  I  thank  God  I 
have  never  yet  once,  to  this  hour  (1784),  repented 
that  I  made  that  sacrifice."  ^ 

In  1765,  Governor  Pownall  was  elected  a  Fel- 
low of  the  Royal  Society ;  and,  on  the  third  of 


1  Admin,  of  the  Colonies,  p.  9  et  seq.     General  Preface  to  Me- 
morials, p.  xi. 
'^  Namely,  Lord  Sandwich,  and  the  Duke  of  Grafton. 
*  General  Preface  to  Memorials,  p.  xi. 


70 


JUNIUS  ■  DISCOVERED. 


August,  in  the  same  year,  he  married  Lady  Fawk- 
ener,  daughter  of  Lieutenant- General  Churchill, 
and  widow  of  Sir  Everard  Fawkener.  Than 
Lady  Fawkener,  few  women  in  England  were, 
at  the  time,  more  remarkable  for  personal  beauty ; 
and  fewer  still  for  a  high  order  of  intellect,  sedu- 
lously cultivated,  and  a  manner  in  every  way  fit- 
ted to  adorn  and  charm  society.  Sir  Everard  had 
been  appointed,  in  March,  1745,  secretary  to  the 
Duke  of  Cumberland,  and,  in  the  following  May, 
he  and  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  were  appointed  joint 
post-masters  general :  —  he  subsequently,  and  for 
several  years,  held,  with  great  ability,  the  high 
office  of  His  Majesty's  ambassador  to  the  Otto- 
man Porte. 

Governor  Pownall,  being  now  independent  of 
office  under  government,  soon  found  in  the  House 
of  Commons  a  new  field  for  the  exercise  of  his 
talents.  In  January,  1767,  he  was  elected  to  suc- 
ceed the  deceased  William  Trevanion,  Esquire, 
in  the  representation  of  Tregony,  in  Cornwall ; 
and,  at  the  ensuing  general  election,  in  1768,  he 
was  reelected  for  the  same  borough,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  John  Gray,  Esquire,  uncle  to  the  Earl 
of  Stamford,  and  a  clerk  to  the  board  of  green- 
cloth.  In  December,  1774,  he  was  returned  for 
Minehead,  in  Somersetshire,  and  continued  to  sit 
for  that  borough  until  the  end  f  "^hat  parliament, 
in  October,  1780,  when  he  closed  his  parliament- 
arv  career. 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


71 


The  reader  will,  no  doubt,  have  observed,  from 
the  foregoing  sketch,  how  progressively,  as  the 
time  for  the  rising  of  the  comet-like  Junius  ap- 
proached, Governor  Pownall  became  established 
in  that  social,  political,  and  local  position,  in 
v/hich  he  could  unobservedly,  and  without  any 
extraordinary  exertions,  collect  almost  any  amount 
of  that  kind  of  information  respecting  past,  pass- 
ing, and  approaching  events,  and  regarding  per- 
sons of  all  ranks  and  degrees,  from  the  monarch 
on  the  throne,  to  the  lowest  clerk  in  a  public  of- 
fice, which  manifests  itself  throughout  the  writ- 
ings of  Junius  ;  and  which  not  only  excited  the 
surprise  of  his  contemporaries,  but  has  continued 
to  the  present  day,  to  be  a  stumblin^-hlock  to 
every  one  who  has  attempted  to  penetrate  the 
darkness  in  which  he  enshrouded  himself. 

But  another  source  from  which  he  derived  in- 
formation, especially  that  information  which  re- 
lated to  measures  and  movements  in  and  about 
the  public  offices  of  the  government,  remains  to 
be  pointed  out.  In  opening  our  sketch,  we  men- 
tioned that  Governor  Pownall's  public  life  began 
in  1745,  as  secretary  to  the  lords  commissioners 
of  trade  and  plantations;  and  that  he  had  an 
elder  brother.  *We  now  extract  from  Nichols's 
Literary  Anecdotes  of  the  eighteenth  century^  but 
with  one  or  two  corrections  and  additions,  a  sum- 
mary of  the  leading  events  of  that  brother's  life. 

John    Pownall,  who   was  also  an  eminent 


•iv -v.ijuiatt  «**ti*^ 


72 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


antiquary  and  intelligent  statesman,  and,  like 
the  Governor,  educated  at  Cambridge,  was 
for  many  years  one  of  the  deputy  lieutenants 
for  the  county  of  Lincoln,  and  in  the  com- 
mission of  the  peace  for  the  counties  of  Lin- 
coln, Middlesex,  Kent,  Surrey,  and  the  city  and 
liberty  of  Westminster.  In  1754,  he  succeed- 
ed his  brother,  Thomas,  as  secretary  to  the 
lords  commissioners  for  trade  and  plantations.^ 
In  January,  1768,  on  the  creation  of  the  new  office 
of  Secretary  of  State  for  the  colonies,  and  the  ap- 
pointment of  Lord  Hillsborough  thereto,  Mr. 
Pownall  was  made  vnder-secretary  for  the  colo- 
nies, in  addition  to  his  other  secretaryship.  On 
the  11th  of  December,  1771,  a  grant  passed  the  great 
seal,  conferring  upon  him  the  office  of  Provost- 
Master- General  of  the  Leeward  and  Caribl  ee 
Islands  in  America, "  to  hold  the  same  by  himself, 
or  sufficient  deputy,  during  his  life,  or  the  lives  of 
John  Livingston  Pownall,  and  George  Pownall,^ 
his  sons,  or  the  longest  liver  of  them."  In  1773,  he 
became  a  Fellow  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries,  — 
in  1774,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Commons,  for  St.  Germain's,  in  Cornwall,  but 


iHis  appointment  to  the  same  office  on  the  17th  of  February, 
1761,  as  recorded  by  the  annalists  of  the  time,  was  merely  a  re- 
appointment, on  the  first  one  becoming  vacant  by  the  demise  of 
George  the  Second. 

2  Afterwards  Secretary  of  the  Province  of  Lower  Canaua.  He 
was  knighted  April  6,  1796,  and  died  October  17,  1834. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


7", 


vacated  his-  seat  about  eighteen  months  after- 
ward, on  being  appointed  one  of  the  commis- 
sioners of  excise,  —  and  in  1785,  he  was  made 
one  of  the  commissioners  of  the  customs.  These 
commissionerships  he  resigned  in  1788,  on  account 
of  his  declining  health,  and  upon  his  eldest  son 
being  appointed  to  the  office  of  accomptant  of 
the  petty  receipts.  His  character  for  ability,  in- 
tegrity, attention  to  and  knowledge  of  business, 
was  universally  known :  and  after  his  retirement 
from  public  employments,  he  continued  his  exer- 
tions as  an  active  and  useful  magistrate.  He 
died  at  Westminster,  July  17,  1795,  leaving  a 
widow  (daughter  of  Lillingston  Bowden  Lillings- 
ton.  Esquire,  of  Ferry  by,  in  Yorkshire),  the  two 
sons  above  named,  and  a  daughter. 

Now,  where  there  is  no  greater  disparity  of 
years,  than  that  which  existed  between  Governor 
Pownall,  and  his  brother  John,  —  and  wliere 
there  is  —  as,  in  their  case,  there  certainly  was  — 
a  tendency  of  mind  towards  the  same  studies  and 
pursuits,^  we  may  fairly  presume  that  "  brotherly 
love,"  in  full  force,  will  prevail ;  and  when  to  that 
presumption  are  added  the  facts — that  John  Pow- 
nall became  the  immediate  successor  of  his  brother 
in  the  secretaryship  for  trade  and  plantations,  — 
that  their  relative  positions  thenceforward,  and 


1  We  allude  more  particularly  to  those  relating  to  autiquities, 
in  which  both  brothers  were  very  eminent. 


74 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


until  the  close  of  Thomas's  governorship  in  1760, 
necessarily  kept  them  in  continued  official  cor- 
respondence with  each  other,^ — and  that  John 
Pownall  continued  to  hold  the  same  office,  and 
that  of  under-secretary  for  the  colonies,  through- 
out Urn  p'  riod  of  time  in  which  Junius  blazed, 
there  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  social  intercourse 
oi  i  he  two  brothers  was  of  the  most  unrestrained 
and  "oijSdential  character ;  and  that  John  would, 
froir  ll  iiie  to  time,  relate  to  his  brother,  as  one  of 
us,  many  ol  those  little  —  as  well  as  great  anec- 
dotes, respecting  little  —  as  well  as  great  men 
(and  vjomen)  which  obtain  free  circulation  in — 
and  scarcely  beyond — the  public  offices;  and 
this — without  ever  dreaming,  that,  in  so  doing, 
he  was  feeding  "  the  mighty  boar  of  the  forest"  — 
Junius. 

Before  entering  upjn  the  tapk  of  showing  an 
identity  of  opinions  between  Governor  Pownall 


I 
I 


1  Wc  have  seer  some  of  this  correspondence  in  the  State-paper 
office,  in  Boston ;  and,  although  it  r  lu/  tend  to  throw  doubt  upon 
the  hypothesis  which  we  are  half  inclined  to  entertc.i  that  Sir 
Pbiljp  Francis  was  the  amanuensis  of  Junius,  we  cannot,  in  fair- 
ness, withhold  an  observation  on  the  handwriting  of  Governor 
Pownall.  In  general,  it  approaches  as  nearly  to  the  handwriting 
of  Junius,  as  that  of  Sir  Philip  does;  but  in  one  particular  it 
perfectly  resembles  —  while  Sir  Philip's  differs  from  it.  The  let- 
ters —  m,  n,  and  iv,  are  invariably  written  by  Sir  Philip  with 
round  tops  and  bottoms  —  and,  as  invariably,  by  the  Governor 
and  J  unius,  with  sharp  ones.  This  is  very  conspicuous  in  the 
Governor's  signature,  in  which  the  w  and  n  are  conjoined. 


j 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


75 


and  Junius,  on  questions  of  constitutional  law, 
or  of  public  policy  or  interest,  and  other  matters, 
either  directly  dealt  with,  or  incidentally  touched 
upon,  by  the  latter,  we  pause,  for  the  purpose  of 
asking  the  reader,  if,  in  any  one  of  the  many  per- 
sons to  whom  the  authorship  of  the  letters  of  Ju- 
nius has  been  attributed,  a  greater  aggregate  of 
the  qualities  essential  to  the  due  filling  of  the 
character  of  that  singular  writer,  can  be  found, 
thon  in  Governor  Pownall,  as  we  have,  thus  far, 
although,  we  fear,  very  imperfectly,  depicted  him  ? 
Trace  him  from  his  first  entry,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three,  into  a  public  office  of  high  trust, 
through  his  career  of  service  and  command  in 
America,  and  of  service  in  Germany,  down  to  his 
entrance  into  the  House  of  Commons,  at  the  age 
of  forty-five,  and  we  find  him  progressively  pass- 
ing through  those  situations  wherein  he  could 
best  obtain  a  thoroughly  practical,  as  well  as  the- 
oretical knowledge  of  public  men,  and  public 
affairs,  military  as  well  as  civil;  —  situations 
wherein,  without  being  a  soldier,  he  could  scarcely 
fail  to  become  one,  —  wherein,  without  being  a 
lawyer,  he,  almost  of  necessity,  became  —  and 
practically  too  —  a  constitutional  one, —  wherein 
a  certain  manner  of  command  was  an  almost 
necessary  adjunct  to  the  fulfilment  of  his  duty, — 
and  wherein,  assisted  by  consciousness  of  sound 
intellect,  and  integrity  of  purpose,  he  could,  with 
ease,  contract  the  habit  of  addressing  his  fellow 


V'"..i>,  .i  '  " 


76 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


man  as  his  equal,  although  a  coronet  should  press 
the  brow,  and  a  ducal  star  gleam  from  the  breast 
of  that  fellow  man. 

It  may  be  said,  however,  that  we  have  not 
shown  any  particular  direction  of  Governor  Pow- 
nalPs  mind  towards  the  acquirement  of  that  fa- 
miliar knowledge  of  constitutional  law  which 
manifests  itself  throughout  the  letters  of  Junius. 
Let  us  see  then,  whether  the  Governor  himself 
cannot  supply  the  deficiency ;  and  whether  he 
cannot,  at  the  same  time,  exhibit  a  perfect  iden- 
tity of  opinion  with  Junius,  of  those  gentlemen 
with  whom  the  practice,  as  well  as  the  study,  of 
the  law,  was  a  profession.  The  reader,  however, 
will  bear  in  mind,  that  while  Junius  chose  to  re- 
main unknown,  and  was,  therefore,  fearless  of 
personal  consequences,  his  bitter  invectives  were 
shot  forth  without  restaraint  of  any  kind,  save  his 
own  sense  of  propriety  ;  but,  when  he  appeared 
as  Governor  Pownall,  in  proprid  persond^  they 
were  kept  within  reasonable  bounds,  by  the  pres- 
ence, actual  or  assumed,  of  their  objects,  —  by 
the  conventional  rules  of  society  in  general,  and 
of  the  House  of  Commons  in  particular,  when 
engaged  in  his  parliamentary  duties ;  and,  more- 
over, it  must  not  be  forgotten,  that  as  Junius  took 
every  precaution  to  forbid  his  becoming  known, 
he  would,  as  Governor  Pownall,  most  sedulously 
avoid  every  peculiarity  of  expression,  every  mode 
of  argument,  every  turn  of  thought,  that  could,  by 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


77 


possibility,  lead  to  the  supposition  that  he  and 
the  Governor  were  identical. 

In  a  debate  in  the  House  of  Commons,  on  a 
proposed  address  to  the  King,  on  the  disturbances 
in  America,  May  8, 1770,  Governor  Pownall  said, 
—  "I  ought  here.  Sir,  and  I  do  beg  leave,  to  make 
apology  to  the  gentlemen  of  the  long-robe  in  this 
House,  for  taking  upon  me  to  state  a  point  of 
law,  and  desire  their  indulgence  whilst  I  endeavour 
to  do  it.  Law  hath  neither  been  my  study,  nor 
was  it  my  profession ;  ^  and  yet.  Sir,  that  law 
which  respects  the  state  of  our  constitution,  ought 
to  be  the  study  of  every  gentleman,  who,  by  his 
situation,  may  have  any  share  in  the  deliberative 
or  executive  part  of  the  community.  That  law, 
which  respects  the  state  and  powers  of  the  crown, 
was  my  study :  because,  being  commissioned  by 
his  Majesty  to  execute  his  royal  powers  as  his 
governor,  it  was  my  duty  to  act  according  to  it : 
and,  so  far.  Sir,  I  will  consider  it  as  my  profes- 
sion." 2  In  the  following  November,  in  a  debate 
in  which  he  combated  the  ministerial  position — 
"  that  the  attorney-general's  power  of  filing  in- 


1  In  his  Administration  of  the  Colonies,  p.  90,  he  says, — "  I  am 
no  lawyer,  and  do  not  therefore  presume  to  give  an  opinion  of 
decision,  but  venture  to  affirm,  that,  etc."  —  This  is  veiy  nearly 
the  language  of  Junius,^  in  his  Preface,  —  "I  am  no  lawyer  by 
profession,  nor  do  I  pretend  to  be  more  deeply  read,  than  every 
English  gentleman  should  be  in  the  laws  of  his  country."  Vol. 
i.  350. 

'  Hansard,  v.  xvi.  988. 


78 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


*^* 


formations  ex  officio^  is  a  legal,  fundamental,  con- 
stitutional power,  exercised  in  the  King's  Courts 
invariably,  and  of  time  immemorial,"  —  he  said,— 
"  But  it  can  never  be  proved,  the  most  learned  of 
the  long-robe  have  not  proved,  and  cannot  prove, 
that  any  such  proceeding  ever  was  admitted,  as 
established  in  the  Court  of  King's  Bench,  till  the 
period  of  the  establishment  of  the  Star-chamber, 
in  Henry  the  Vllth's  time.  Since  that  period, 
there  do  exist  some  precedents,  but  prior  to  that 
period  they  cannot  produce  one"  —  [Here  some 
gentlemen  in  large  full-bottomed  wigs  shook  their 
heads ;  as  much  as  to  say  —  he  is  wrong,  totally 
wrong.  This  gave  fresh  spirit  to  the  callers  for 
the  question,  and  the  clamour  began  again.  Mr. 
Po  vnall,  however,  continued,  by  saying]  —  "  that 
authoritative  shaking  of  the  head  may  have  effect 
where  those  wigs  are  to  give  weight  to  judgment, 
but  they  give  no  force  nor  weight  to  argument. 
If  I  am  wrong,  convict  me.  I  call  upon  you  to 
prove  the  contrary.  The  conviction  of  my  error 
may  produce  truth.  I  challenge  those  gentlemen 
to  the  proof.  Until  the  contrary  is  proved,  I  will 
affirm,  that  this  proceeding  by  information  ex 
officio  is  directly  contrary  to  our  constitution ;  is 
not  known  to  our  common  law ;  is  not  authorized 
by  our  statutes ;  is  at  best  an  usurpation  of  the 
Court  whenever  practised ;  crept  in  from  the  habit 
of  exercising  it  according  to  civil  law  proceedings 
in  the  Star-chamber;  and  when  that  cursed  court 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


79 


was  abolished,  was  left  as  a  bitter  layer  of  it, 
which  had  struck  its  poisonous  root  in  the  King's 
Bench."  *  We  have  designedly  made  this  ex- 
tract longer  than  is  strictly  needful,  and  we 
again,  occasionally,  may  do  the  like ;  but  our 
purpose  in  so  doing  will  not,  we  trust,  be  unap 
predated  by  the  reader :  it  is  to  the  end  of  show- 
ing, that  Governor  Pownall's  language  is  not 
wanting  in  the  energy,  decision,  and  clearness  of 
style  that  are  so  remarkable  in  the  acknowledged 
letters  of  Junius.  Another  extract,  and  the  last, 
on  this  point,  will  show,  still  more  prominently, 
how  much  his  contemptuous  opinion  of  lawyers 
coincided  with  that  of  Junius.  It  is  from  a  speech 
reported  in  Hansard) s  Parliamentary  History,,  Vol. 
XXI.  p.  249.  Governor  P.  said,  — " .  .  .  that  he 
had  attended  to  the  reasoning  of  gentlemen  on 
this  subject,  with  that  respect  which  their  char- 
acters and  their  opinions  deserved,  and  to  the 


1  Hansard,  v.  xvi.  1173  et  seq. :  —  There  is  much  in  this  ex- 
tract like  the  following  from  Junius's  Letter  XVI.,  July  19,  1769, 
vol.  i.,  516.  "  I  will  venture  to  affirm,  1st,  That  there  is  no  stat- 
ute existing,  by  which  that  specific  disability,  which  we  speak  of, 
is  created.  If  there  be,  let  it  be  produced.  The  argument  will 
then  be  at  aa  end.  2dly,  That  there  is  no  precedent  in  all  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  House  of  Commons  which  comes  entirely  home 
to  the  present  case,  viz. :  ....  If  there  be  such  a  precedent, 
let  it  be  given  to  us  plainly,  and  I  am  sure  it  will  have  more 
weight  than  all  the  cunning  arguments  which  have  been  drawn 
from  inferences  and  probabilities."  See  also.  Letters  XLIV.  and 
LX  VIII.,  in  vol.  ii.,  pp.  215  et  seq.,  and  409. 


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80 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


law-reasoning  of  professional  gentlemen  with  all 
the  caution  that  their  arguments  and  opinions 
required;  that  he  was  founded  upon  the  judg- 
ment of  one  of  the  ablest  advocates,  one  of  the 
first  orators,  one  of  the  greatest  politicians,  in 
declaring,  that  the  profession,  from  a  habit,  always 
contracted  in  the  practice,  had  a  natural  tendency 
to  form  the  mind  to  an  undecided,  vague  habit 
of  thinking,  and  an  academic  sceptic  habit  of 
reasoning.  Cicero  was  the  authority  referred  to, 
who  confessed  this  of  himself  in  express  and 
direct  terms,  that  while  he  wrote  as  an  academi- 
cian, he  could  be  a  stoic  on  one  side  of  the  ques- 
on,  and  an  epicurean  on  the  other." 
To  the  extracts  from  the  letters  of  Junius,  already 
giveuy  to  show  that  he  was  not  a  lawyer,  we  add 
the  following  one,  from  the  Letter  LXVIIL,  to 
Lord  Mansfield,  dated  Jan.  21, 1772,  —  and  then, 
we  trust,  the  reader  will  admit,  that  our  proof  of 
the  identity,  in  opinion,  of  Governor  Pownall  and 
Junius,  on  that  score,  is  complete.  —  "  To  prove 
the  meaning  and  intent  of  the  legislature  will  re- 
quire a  minute  and  tedious  deduction.  To  inves- 
tigate a  question  of  law  demands  some  labour 
and  attention,  though  very  little  genius  or  sagac- 
ity. As  ^  practical  prof  ession,  the  study  of  the 
law  requires  but  a  moderate  portion  of  abilities. 
The  learning  of  a  pleader  is  usually  upon  a  level 
with  his  integrity.  The  indiscriminate  defence 
of  right  and  wrong  contracts  the  understanding, 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


81 


while  it  corrupts  the  heart.  Subtlety  ia  soon  mis- 
taken for  wisdom,  and  impunity  for  virtue.  If 
there  be  any  instances  upon  record,  as  some  there 
are  undoubtedly,  of  genius  and  morality  united 
in  a  lawyer,  they  are  distinguished  by  their  sin- 
gularity, and  operate  as  exceptions."  ^ 

Reverting  to  the  commencement  of  Governor 
PownalPs  services  in  parliament,  in  1767,  we 
shall  now  endeavour  to  show  such  a  general  affin- 
ity of  opinion  between  him  and  Junius,  as  shall 
cast  into  the  shade  all  minor  differences ;  —  the 
latter,  indeed,  being,  in  no  instance  that  we  have 
yet  met  with,  greater  than  the  most  consistent 
politician  will  exhibit,  at  different  times,  in  the 
course  of  a  few  years,  when  speaking  on  the 
same — or  a  kindred  subject;  such  differences 
arising  from  a  change  —  sometimes  in  the  cir- 
cumstances attendant  upon,  or  relative  to  the 
subject,  —  and  at  others,  being  derived  either  from 
the  speaker,  or  from  his  audience. 

Governor  Pownall's  first  speech  in  parliament 
was  delivered  on  the  15th  of  May,  1767,  in  op- 
position to  a  motion  for  bringing  in  a  bill  for  sus- 
pending the  Assembly  of  New  York.  His  intro- 
duction of  himself — if  we  may  so  speak — is 
characteristic  of  the  man :  — "  .  .  .  .  However 
clear  and  distinctly  these  matters  may  lie  in  my 
own  mind,  in  the  strongest  form  of  conviction, 


mg, 


I  Vol. «.  412. 


82 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


yet,  being  unaccustomed  to  speak  in  public,  I 
am  afraid  I  shall  be  unable  so  to  dispose  and  ex- 
plain them,  as  to  exhibit  the  same  distinctness, 
and  to  convey  the  same  conviction  to  others. 
•This  being  the  first  time  I  have  presumed  to  speak 
in  this  House,  I  feel  that  kind  of  awe  in  the  pres- 
ence of  it,  which  every  one  must  feel,  who  com- 
pares the  little  importance  of  his  own  sentiments, 
with  the  experience,  the  knowledge,  and  the  wis- 
dom of  so  great  an  assembly ;  ^  so  that  instead 
of  finding  myself  master  of  my  own  sentiments 
and  opinion,  I  feel  as  if  I  had  risen  only  to  ex- 
perience my  own  insufficiency.  But  the  indul- 
gence of  the  House  gives  me  encouragement,  that 
they  are  willing  to  hear  and  receive  what  I  can 
say  on  this  subject.  And  indeed,  it  is  not  only 
from  the  situation  in  general  in  which  I  stood, 
and  the  relation  which  I  have  borne  to  the  busi- 
ness of  America,  which  seems  to  render  it  proper 
that  I  should  not  give  a  silent  vote  upon  this  oc- 
casion; but  the  particular  manner  in  which  I 
have  been  concerned  in  this  particular  business, 
does  especially  call  upon  me  to  give  my  opinion 
on  the  matter  now  under  debate."  ^ 

As  this  extract  refers  to  the  subject  of  the  col- 
onies, and  their  relation  to  the  mother-country. 


^  The  House  of  Commons  is  twice  called  a  great  aasemUff,  in 
Misc.  Lett.,  liii.  vol.  iii.  193  et  seq. 
Hansard's  Perl.  Hist.  ?cvi.  931. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


83 


we  shall  make  it  the  first  one  in  the  order  of  sub- 
jects to  be  submitted  to  the  reader's  judgment. 

We  must  confess,  that  our  earliest  cursory 
comparison  of  the  opinions  of  Governor  Pownall, 
on  this  subject,  as  they  are  to  be  found  spread 
through  his  speeches  in  parliament,  —  his  Admin' 
istration  of  the  Colonies,  —  and  his  Three  Memo' 
rials,  etc.,  with  those  contained  in  the  three  vol- 
umes of  G.  Woodfall's  Letters  of  Junius,  was 
any  thing  but  encouraging;  inasmuch  as,  in  many 
respects,  they  appeared  to  be  at  variance.     The 
variance,  however,  being  only  to  be  traced  in  the 
Miscellaneous  Letters,  and  many  of  these  having 
confessedly  been  admitted  into  the  collection,  as 
genuine  productions  of  the  pen  of  Junius,  upon 
little  or  no  other  ground  than  the  bare  opinion  of 
Dr.  Good,  that "  the  manner,  the  phraseology,  the 
sarcastic,   exprobratory  style  "^   of  them   suffi- 
ciently identified,  and  therefore  entitled  them  to 
the  admission,  we  deemed  the  Miscellaneous  Let- 
ters, with  some  exceptions,  to  be  of  too  doubtful 
origin  to  be  allowed  to  serve  as  tests  of  the  opin- 
ions of  their  reputed  author,  expressed  in  his 
avowed  and  undoubted  writings.     Common  jus- 
tice to  Junius,  and  a  due  regard  to  truth,  there- 
fore, demanded,  that  the  sources  from  which  his 
opinions  should  be  drawn,  should  be  restricted  to 
his  own  authorized  collection,  —  and  to  his  pri- 


^Frel.  Essay,  vol.  i.  14. 


84 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


vate  letters  to  Woodfall  and  Wilkes  respectively ; 
to  which  may  be  added  —  the  letter  to  Lord 
Chatham,  dated  January  14, 1773,  published  in 
the  Chatham  Correspondence,  The  Miscellaneous 
Letters  can  only  be  used  with  safety,  when  they 
coincide  in  opinion  with  the  avowedly  genuine 
letters : — in  such  cases,  the  opinion,  and  the  style  ^ 
or  expression,  taken  together,  form  presumptive 
evidence  of  their  being  genuine.  Junius,  himself, 
may  be  said  to  claim  to  be  tried  upon  this  equi- 
table principle,  in  the  following  passage : — "  But 
he  (Home)  asserts  that  he  has  traced  me  through 
a  variety  of  signatures.  To  make  the  discovery 
of  any  importance  to  his  purpose,  he  should  have 
proved,  either  that  the  fictitious  character  of  Ju- 
nius has  not  been  consistently  supported,  or  that 
the  author  has  maintained  different  principles 
under  different  signatures.-^!  cannot  recall  to 
my  memory  the  numberless  trifles  I  have  written ; 
—  hut  I  rely  upon  the  consciousness  of  my  own  in- 
tegrity,  and  defy  him  to  fix  any  colourable  charge 
of  inconsistency  upon  we."  ^ 

The  result  of  pursuing  the  investigation  on  the 
principle  here  enunciated,  has  proved  highly  sat- 
isfactory ;  as  showing,  in  some  instances,  no  ma- 
terial  difference,  —  and,  in  the  generality,  a  perfect 
homogeneity  of  opinion  between  Junius  and 
Governor  Pownall.     The  inquiry  has  also  led  to 


^Letter  liv.  vol.  ii.  306. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


85 


the  discovery,  that  a  double  error,  if  we  may  so 
term  it,  has  hitherto  prevailed  with  regard  to  both 
Junius  and  Governor  Pownall ;  and  that  has  been 
the  chief  means  of  shielding  the  latter  from  the 
suspicions  of  those  persons  who  were  in  search 
of  the  former.  Both  have  been  looked  upon  as 
party-men;  whereas  —  both  were,  as  we  shall 
prove,  independent  of  every  party ;  although  the 
circumstances  of  the  times,  and  the  loose  politi- 
cal principles  and  conduct  of  the  leading  men  in 
power,  generally  —  nay,  almost  always  —  ranged 
them  with  the  opponents  of  the  ministry  for  the 
time  being :  —  thus,  both  Junius  and  Governor 
Pownall  will  be  found,  at  one  and  the  same  time, 
opposing  the  ministry  in  their  measures  against 
the  colonies,  and  the  party  in  parliament  who 
assumed  to  be  the  "  patrons  of  America,"  in 
their  encouragement  of  the  colonists  to  measures 
tending  to  neutralize,  in  the  colonies,  the  supreme 
legislative  power  of  the  British  parliament,  and, 
as  a  consequence,  to  establish  their  independence 
of  the  mother-country ;  —  and  yet,  both  of  them, 
admitting,  with  the  ministry,  the  theory  of  the 
absolute  supremacy  of  the  British  legislature  over 
the  colonies !  Again,  —  Governor  Pownall,  from 
being  no  party-man,  and,  at  times,  fighting  almost 
single-handed  in  the  House  of  Commons,  is  often 
confounded  with  the  patrons,  although  he  strongly 
advocated  whatever  measures  tended  to  the  restor- 
ation of  peace  between  the  colonists  and  the  mo- 


86 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


ther-country,  and  to  the  diverting  them  from  their 
notions  of  rebellion,  as  a  step  to  independence ; 
and  he  continued  so  to  do, — and,  if  Junius  had  con- 
tinued so  long  to  write,  he  would  have  done  the 
same  —  until  their  independence  hecBine  fixed  as 
fate  y^hy  the  publication  of  their  celebrated  declara- 
tion, in  which  Governor  Pownall  saw  clearly  the 
vestigia  nulla  retrorsum  ;  therefore,  he  was  one  of 
the  first  to  urge  upon  the  home  government  and 
parliament,  the  policy  of  immediately  recognizing 
America  as,  both  de  facto  and  dejure^  one  of  the 
independent  nations  of  the  earth ;  and  of  forming 
with  her,  as  such,  a  treaty  of  peace  and  com- 
merce ;  a  measure  which  the  more  clear-sighted 
politicians  of  the  French  cabinet  had  already  se- 
cured. Junius,  also,  has  been  represented  as  a 
bitter  enemy  of  the  Americans,  and  a  bigoted 
advocate  of  the  mother-country's  tyranny  towards 
them ;  *  propositions  which  —  in  no  sense  —  can 
find  support  in  his  avowed  writings. 

We  have  said  that  Junius  was  no  party-man. 
This  will  be  admitted  by  every  one  who  reads 
his  letters  with  an  understanding  mind,  and  a 
capability  of  distinguishing  between  arguments 
based  on  unerring  principles,  and  arguments 
merely  formed  to  meet  the  exigency  of  the  mo- 
ment, or  to  support  an  arbitrary  line  of  policy ; 


1  Gov.  P.'s  Memorial  to  the  Sovereigns  of  Europe,  p.  5. 
^  Lord  Brougham's  sketch  of  Lord  Mansfield. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


87. 


and  is  thus  clearly  shown  by  Dr.  IMason  Good,  in 
his  preliminary  essay:  —  "Junius  has  been  re- 
peatedly accused  of  having  been  a  party-man, 
but  perhaps  no  political  satirist  was  ever  less  so. 
To  Mr.  Wilkes  and  Mr.  Home  he  was  equally 
indifferent,  except  in  regard  to  their  public  prin- 
ciples and  public  characters.  In  his  estimation 
the  cause  alone  was  every  thing,  and  they  were 
only  of  value  as  the  temporary  and  accidental 
supporters  of  it.  *  Let  us  employ  these  men' — 
says  he  —  *  in  whatever  departments  their  various 
abilities  are  best  suited  to,  and  as  much  to  the 
advantage  of  the  common  cause,  as  their  differ- 
ent inclinations  will  permit If  individuals 

have  no  virtues,  their  vices  may  be  of  use  to  us. 
I  care  not  with  what  principle  the  new-born  pa- 
triot is  animated,  if  the  measures  he  supports  are 
beneficial  to  the  community.  The  nation  is  in- 
terested in  his  conduct.  His  motives  are  his 
own.  The  properties  of  a  patriot  are  perishable 
in  the  individual,  but  there  is  a  quick  succession 
of  subjects,  and  the  breed  is  worth  preserving.'  ^ 
It  was  in  this  view  of  the  politics  of  the  day, 
that  he  privately  cautioned  his  friend  Woodfall, 
*  to  be  much  upon  his  guard  against  patriots ; '  * 
and  in  the  consciousness  of  possessing  a  truly 
independent  spirit,  that  he  boasted  of  being '  dis- 
owned, as  a  dangerous  auxiliary,  by  every  party 


1  Lett.  lix.  vol.  ii.  346,  and  356  et  seq.    2  No.  44,  vol.  i.  238. 


88 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


in  the  kingdom/  ^  his  creed  not  expressly  com- 
porting with  any  single  party-creed  whatever."  ' 
We  have  said  that  Governor  Pownall  was  no 
party-man.  In  proof  of  this,  we  confidently  ap- 
peal to  his  whole  parliamentary  career,  as  it 
appears  in  the  pages  of  Hansard's  ParHamentary 
History.  It  will  be  there  seen,  that  it  watii  he* 
cause  of  his  independent  spirit,  and  that  he  would 
not  attach  himself  to  any  party,  nor  support  any 
measure  from  party  motives,  that  he  could  not 
command  that  influence  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons which  his  extensive  knowledge  —  his  expe- 
rience—  his  ability  as  a  debater — his  integrity 
of  character,  entitled  him  to.  It  was  then  —  as 
it  now  is,  and  no  doubt  ever  will  be  —  in  parlia- 
ment, the  inevitable  consequence  of  being  of  no 
party,  or  independent.  The  independence  and 
ability  of  such  a  member,  in  fact,  neutralize  his 
wisdom  and  integrity.  This  was  deeply  felt  by 
Governor  Pownall,  and^  on  several  occasions,  he 
gave  expression  to  the  feeling.  As  instances,—! 
on  the  20th  of  February,  1775,  in  a  debate  on 
Lord  North's  proposition  for  conciliating  the  dif- 
ferences with  America,  he  said  — "  Yet  taking 
up  the  matter  on  the  ground  whereon  it  now 
stands,  without  consideration  of  that  influence, 
either  of  persons  or  things,  that  has  caused  this 
effect;  without  looking  into  the  conduct  of  vari- 


iLett.  xliv.  vol.  ii.  205. 


a  Vol.  i.  79. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVEI^D. 


his 
by 
he 


an- 


OU8  sets  of  men,  and  various  ministers,  with  whom 
I  never  had  any  connection,  and  with  whom  I 
never  shall  form  any ;  having  stood,  and  being 
determined  to  remain  unconnected  with  all  par- 
ties ;  speaking  my  own  private  sentiments,  look- 
ing to  things  and  not  to  men,  I  act  from  my  own 
principles:"^  —  and  in  a  debate  on  the  2d  of 
December,  1777,  on  Mr.  Fox's  motion  for  an  in- 
quiry into  the  state  of  the  nation,  —  he  said,  (af- 
ter having  read  a  resolve  of  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  dated  Dec.  30,  1776,  expressive  of 
*  their  determination,  at  all  events,  to  maintain 
their  independence',)  — "  Here,  what  terms  will 
the  gentlemen  in  government,  on  their  side  of  the 
House,  offer  ?  What  terms  will  the  gentlemen 
on  the  other  side  desire  to  meet  these  proposi- 
tions ?  "Will  they  also  make  the  artful  and  insid- 
ious representation  of  the  disposition  of  the 
Americans  ?  I  know,  that  what  I  have  said,  and 
what  I  shall  say  further,  will  displease  gentlemen 
on  both  sides ;  but  I  have  no  managements  to 
keep,  either  with  individuals  or  parties  of  men :  I 
have  none  to  oblige,  I  have  none  to  fear.  On 
occasions  like  this,  I  shall  look  not  to  men,  but  to 

things ;  and,  etc That  the  House  may  not 

think  that  I  am  hazarding  opinions,  and  talking 
at  random,  I  will  beg  to  remind  them,  that  nine 
years  ago,  in  the  years  1768  and  1769,  when  you 


1  Hansard,  v.  xviii.  323. 


90 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


wore  beginning  the  quarrel  that  has  brought  on 
this  horrid  and  destructive  war,  I  did  *  explain  to 
the  House,  not  in  general  words,  but  by  a  par- 
ticular detail,  the  state  and  circumstances  of 
America,  and  its  inhabitants ;  and  from  thence 
described  the  issue  of  this  business  literally  and 
precisely  as  it  has  turned  out  in  every  event  to 
this  great  and  interesting  oite.  There  was  no- 
body, at  that  time,  who  knew  so  much  of  the 
matter  as  myself;  and  I  thought  it  my  duty  at 
that  time ;  I  spoke  out,  without  management  or 
reserve.  The  House  did  not  care  to  believe  it, 
and  were  less  willing  to  hear  it :  I  was  not  well 
heard,  yet  it  was  true ;  it  has  proved  true  in  al- 
most every  iota.  When,  upon  your  sending 
troops  to  Boston,  the  Americans  were  driven  to 
war,  I  first  informed  this  House,  and  I  believe 
Government  also,  that  the  Americans  were  not 
unprepared  to  meet  any  event ;  that  they  had 
foreseen  what  must  come,  and  were  prepared  both 
in  civil  as  well  as  military  arrangements,  to  con- 
duct their  own  affairs,  and  to  resist  your  mea- 
sures. I  then  informed  the  House  of  their  having 
planned  and  modelled  an  army :  the  House  did 
not  care  to  understand,  though  they  did  not  dis- 
believe me."  2 


1  See  Junius,  vol.  i.  236,  "  I  did  never  question  your  understand- 
ing ; "  and  other  instances  in  vol.  ii.  264,  376,  379,  390,  425,  etc. 
"  Hansard,  xix.  525. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


91 


lis- 


land- 
etc. 


In  the  General  Preface  to  his  Three  Memorials, 
written  in  1782,  and  published,  with  a  new  edi- 
tion of  the  latter,  in  1784,  he  says, — "  Whether 
the  part  which  I  afterwards  took  as  a  member  of 
parliament  be  known  or  understood,  is  of  no  con- 
sequence; for  being  such  as  answered  not  the 
purposes  of  anj/  parti/  *  of  men,  it  rendered  not  only 
my  conduct,  but  myself  of  no  consequence  in  my 
native  land.  Paulum  sepultee  dislat  inerliee  celata 
-—  before  I  decided  upon  holding  this  conduct,  I 
had  settled  it  with  myself  to  be  content  in  insig- 
nificance, and  I  have  repeatedly  gloried  in  this 
my  state  of  insignificance :  Upon  *  the  winding 
up  of  the  late  great  revolution  in  the  empire,  I 
enjoy  from  hence  a  more  real  and  solid  happiness 
than  all  the  emoluments  and  honours  of  Govern- 
ment could  create  in  me."  A  page  or  two  after, 
and  in  reference  to  his  speech  from  which  the 
above  extract  is  taken,  he  says,  —  "  The  treating 
with  the  States  in  Congress,  as  sovereign  and 
independent,  was  a  point  sine  quo  non :  And  no 
other  treaty  than  b.  fagderal  one  was  practicable. 
....  I  announced  it  in  parliament,  and  recom- 
mended {the  Jin    time  that  any  such  idea  was  ever 


1  The  italics  are  his  own.  ' 

-  '  On  closing  a  sentence  with  a  cdon,  it  is  not  usual  to  begin  the 
first  word  of  the  succeeding  sentence  with  a  capital  letter,  unless 
the  word  oc  a  proper  name ;  but  Gov.  P.  frequently  does  so ;  and 
80  does  Junius.  See  instances  in  vol.  ii.  158,246,343,356,364, 
469,  etc. 


92 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERBD. 


announced  there)  a  fcederal  treaty  with  Amer- 
ica. This  was  novel,  and  so  contrary  to  the  wis- 
dom of  our  government,  that  Ministers,  though 
they  dared  not  touch  the  argument  in  parliament, 
called  it  in  the  Cabinet,  a  wild  notion.  Not  an- 
swering, at  that  moment,  the  purposes  of  party, 
it  was  equally  neglected  by  the  opposition,  and  I 
found  myself  alone : "  —  and,  in  the  preface  to  his 
Memorial  to  the  King,  with  reference  to  himself, 
and  writing  in  the  third  person,  he  says,  — "  — 
conscious  that  he  was  known,  both  in  England 
and  America,  known  by  his  insignificance,  never 
to  have  written,  spoken  in  parliament,  or  acted 
in  any  one  instance,  on  party  grounds,  in  this 
great  question  respecting  America,"  etc.  In  the 
Administration  of  the  Colonies,  first  published  in 
1764,  he  shows  the  same  independence  of  party : 
— "  My  present  situation,  by  which  I  stand  un- 
connected with  the  politics  of  ministry,  or  of  the 
colonies,  opens  the  fairest  occasion  to  me  of  giv- 
ing to  the  public,  whom  it  concerns,  such  an  im- 
partial, uninfluenced  opinion,  of  what  I.think  to 
be  the  right  of  things,  as  I  am  convinced  the  fol- 
lowing sheets  contain.  I  know  what  effect  this 
conduct  will  have,  what  it  has  had,  on  this  work 
and  on  myself.  I  may  be  thought,  neither  by  the 
ministry  nor  the  colonists,  to  understand  the  sub- 
ject, —  the  one  may  call  this  the  vision  of  a  the- 
orist, the  other  will  represent  the  doctrine  which 
it  contains,  as  the  prejudices  of  power  and  ambi- 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


93 


giv- 
im- 
Ikto 
fol- 
this 
rork 
the 
Isub- 
Ithe- 
Ihich 
ibi- 


tion.  The  one  may  think  me  an  advocate  for 
the  politics  of  the  colonies,  the  other  will  imag- 
ine me  to  be  an  evil  counsellor  against  the  colo- 
nies to  the  ministry :  But  as  I  know  that  my 
aim  is,  without  any  prudential  view  of  pleasing 
others,  or  of  my  own  interest,  to  point  out  and  to 
endeavour  to  establish  an  idea  of  the  true  inter- 
est of  the  colonies,  and  of  the  mother-country  as 
related  to  the  colonies,  I  shall  equally  disregard 
what  varies  from  this  on  the  one  hand,  and  reject 
what  deviates  from  it  on  the  other." 

We  have  said,  in  substance,  that  both  Junius 
and  Governor  Pownall  were  opposed  to  the  min- 
istry in  their  measures  against  America,  and  yet 
were  with  them,  and  in  opposition  to  the  patrons 
of  America,  in  maintaining  the  theory  of  the  ab- 
solute supremacy  of  the  British  legislature  over 
the  colonists.  In  his  first  letter,  dated  Jan.  21, 
1769,^  Junius  says,  —  "A  series  of  inconsistent 
measures  had  alienated  the  colonies  from  their 
duty  as  subjects,  and  from  their  natural  affection 

to  their  common  country He  (Mr.  Gren- 

ville)  thought  it  equitable  that  those  parts  of  the 
Empire,  which  had  benefited  most  by  the  ex- 
penses of  the  war,  should  contribute  something 
to  the  expenses  of  the  peace,  and  he  had  no 
doubt  of  the  constitutional  right  vested  in  parlia- 
ment to  raise  that  contribution.  But  unfortu- 
nately for  this  country,  Mr.  Grenville  was  at  any 

1  Vol.  i.  394,  Letter  i. 


94 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


rate  to  be  distressed,  because  he  was  minister, 
and  Mr.  Pitt  ^  and  Lord  Camden  were  to  be  the 
patrons  of  America,  because  they  were  in  oppo- 
sition. Their  declarations  gave  spirit  and  argu- 
ment to  the  colonies,  and  while  perhaps  they 
meant  no  more  than  the  ruin  of  a  minister,  they 
in  effect  divided  one  half  of  the  empire  from  the 
other.  Under  one  administration  the  stamp-act 
is  made ;  under  the  second  it  is  repealed ;  under 
the  third,  in  spite  of  all  experience,  a  new  mode 
of  taxing  the  colonies  is  invented,  and  a  question 
revived,  which  ought  to  have  been  buried  in  ob- 
livion. In  these  circumstances,  a  r;ew  office  is 
established  for  the  business  of  the  plantations, 
and  the  Earl  of  Hillsborough  called  forth,  at  a 
most  critical  season,  to  govern  America.  The 
choice  at  least  announced  to  us  a  man  of  supe- 
rior capacity  and  knowledge.  Whether  he  be  so 
or  not,  let  his  despatches,  as  far  as  they  have  ap- 
peared, let  his  measures,  as  far  as  they  have  op- 
erated, determine  for  him.  In  the  former  we  have 
seen  strong  assertions  without  proof,  declamation 
without  argument,  and  violent  censures  without 
dignity  or  moderation ;  but  neither  correctness  in 
the  composition,  nor  judgment  in  the  design.  As 
for  his  measures,  let  it  be  remembered  that  he 
was  called  upon  to  conciliate  and  unite ;  and  that, 
when  he  entered  into  office,  the  most  refractory 

1  Yet  Junius  has  been  called  the  partisan  of  Lord  Chatham ! 
N(de  by  Junius. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


95 


&tham  1 


of  the  colonies  were  still  disposed  to  proceed  by 
the  constitutional  methods  of  petition  and  re- 
monstrance. Since  that  period  they  have  been 
driven  into  excesses  little  short  of  rebellion.  Pe- 
titions have  been  hindered  from  reaching  the 
throne ;  and  the  continuance  of  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal assemblies  rested  upon  an  arbitrary  condi- 
tion,i  which,  considering  the  temper  they  were 
in,  it  was  impossible  they  should  comply  with, 
and  which  would  have  availed  nothing  as  to  the 
general  question,  if  it  had  been  complied  with. 
So  violent,  and  I  believe  I  may  call  it  so  uncon- 
stitutional, an  exertion  of  the  prerogative,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  weak,  injudicious  terms  in  which 
it  was  conveyed,  gives  us  as  humble  an  opinion 
of  his  Lordship's  capacity,  as  it  does  of  his  tem- 
per and  moderation.  While  we  are  at  peace 
with  other  nations,  our  military  force  may  per- 
haps be  spared  to  support  the  Earl  of  Hillsbor- 
ough's measures  in  America.  Whenever  that 
force  shall  be  necessarily  withdrawn  or  dimin- 
ished, the  dismission  of  such  a  minister  will 
neither  console  us  for  his  imprudence,  nor  remove 
the  settled  resentment  of  a  people,  who,  com- 
plaining of  an  act  of  the  legislature,  are  outraged 
by  an  unwarrantable  stretch  of  prerogative,  and, 
supporting  their  claims  by  argument,  are  insulted 
with  declamation In  one  view  behold  a 

1  That  they  should  retract  one  of  their  resolutions,  and  erase 
the  entry  of  it.    Note  by  Junius. 


96 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERBD. 


nation  overwhelmed  with  debt;  her  revenues 
wasted ;  her  trade  declining ;  the  affections  of  her 
colonies  alienated ;  etc."  ^ 

In  Letter  XXXV.,  Dec.  19,  1769,  (Address  to 
the  King) :  —  "  The  distance  of  the  colonies  would 
make  it  >  impossible  for  them  to  take  an  active 
concern  in  your  affairs,  if  they  were  as  well  af- 
fected to  your  government,  as  they  once  pretended 
to  be  to  your  person.  They  were  ready  enough 
to  distinguish  between  you  and  your  ministers. 
They  complained  of  an  act  of  the  legislature,  but 
traced  the  origin  of  it  no  higher  than  to  the  ser- 
vants of  the  Crown:  They  pleased  themselves 
with  the  hope  that  their  Sovereign,  if  not  favour- 
able to  their  cause,  at  least  was  impartial.  The 
decisive,  personal  part  you  took  against  them,  has 
effectually  banished  that  first  distinction  from 
their  minds.  They  consider  you  as  united  with 
your  servants  against  America,  and  know  how  to 
distinguish  the  Sovereign  and  a  venal  parliament 
on  one  side,  from  the  real  sentiments  of  the  English 
people  on  the  other.  Looking  forward  to  inde- 
pendence, they  might  possibly  receive  you  for 
their  King ;  but,  if  ever  you  retire  to  America,  be 
assured  they  will  give  you  such  a  covenant  to 
digest,  as  the  presbytery  of  Scotland  would  have 
been  ashamed  to  offer  to  Charles  the  Second. 
They  left  their  native  land  in  search  of  freedom, 


1  Vol.  i.  401. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


97 


and  found  it  in  a  desert.  Divided  as  they  are 
into  a  thousand  forms  of  policy  and  religion, 
there  is  one  point  in  which  they  all  agree:  — 
they  equally  detest  the  pageantry  of  a  king,  and 
the  supercilious  hypocrisy  of  a  bishop.  It  is  not 
then  from  the  alienated  affections  of  Ireland  or 
America,  that  you  can  reasonably  look  for  assist- 
ance ;  still  less  from  the  people  of  England,  who 
are  actually  contending  for  their  rights,  and  in 
this  great  question  are  parties  against  you."  ^ 

In  Letter  XXXIX.,  May  28, 1770 :  —  «  Neither 
the  general  situation  of  our  colonies,  nor  that  par- 
ticular distress  which  forced  the  inhabitants  of 
Boston  to  take  up  arms  in  their  defence,  have 
been  thought  worthy  of  a  moment's  considera- 
tion. In  the  repeal  of  those  acts,  which  were 
most  offensive  to  America,  the  parliament  have 
done  every  thing,  but  remove  the  offence.  They 
have  relinquished  the  revenue,  but  judiciously 
taken  care  to  preserve  the  contention.  It  is  not 
pretended  that  the  continuation  of  the  tea-duty  is 
to  produce  any  direct  benefit  whatsoever  to  the 
mother-country.  What  is  it  then  but  an  odious, 
unprofitable  exertion  of  a  speculative  right,  and 
fixing  a  badge  of  slavery  upon  the  Americans, 
without  service  to  their  masters?  But  it  has 
pleased  God  to  give  us  a  ministry  and  a  parlia- 


1  Vol.  ii.  76,  77. 


98 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


ment,  who  are  neither  to  be  persuaded  by  argu- 
ment, nor  instructed  by  experience."  ^ 

In  Letter  LIX.,  Oct  5,  1771,— "When  Lord 
Chatham  affirms,  that  the  authority  of  the  British 
legislature  is  not  supreme  over  the  colonies,  in  the 
same  sense  in  which  it  is  supreme  over  Great  Brit- 
ain;—  when  Lord  Camden  supposes  a  necessity 
(which  the  King  is  to  judge  of),  and,  founded  upon 
that  necessity,  attributes  to  the  crown  a  legal  power 
(not  given  by  the  act  itself)  to  suspend  the  oper- 
ation of  an  act  of  the  legislature,  —  I  listen  to 
them  both  with  diffidence  and  respect,  but  with- 
out the  smallest  degree  of  conviction  or  assent. 
.  .  .  .  Lord  Hillsborough  wisely  confines  7*15  firm- 
ness to  the  distant  Americans I  should  be 

sorry  to  revive  the  dormant  questions  of  Stamps 

actf  Corn-bill,  or  Press-warrant The  spirit 

of  the  Americans  may  be  an  useful  example  to 
us."2 

In  Letter  LXIV.,  Nov,  2,  1771,  —  (Junius's 
opinion  had  been  mistaken,  or  misrepresented, 
and  he  set  it  right  by  this  declaration) : — "  Junius 
considers  the  right  of  taxing  the  colonies,  by  an 
act  of  the  British  legislature,  as  a  speculative  right 
merely,  never  to  be  exerted,  nor  ever  to  be  re- 
nounced.  To  his  judgment  it  appears  plain, '  That 
the   general  reasonings  which  were  employed 


iVoLii.  147. 


«Vol.ii.  350-357. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


99 


against  that  power,  went  directly  to  our  whole 
legislative  right,  and  that  one  part  of  it  could  not 
be  yielded  to  such  arguments,  without  a  virtual 
surrender  of  all  the  rest.' "  ^ 

In  Letter  No,  66,  to  Wilkes^  Sept.  7,  1771: 
— "  As  to  taxing  the  Americans  by  their  own 
representatives,  I  confess  I  do  not  perfectly  under- 
stand you.  If  you  propose  that,  in  the  article  of 
taxation,  they  should  hereafter  be  left  to  the  au- 


^  Vol.  ii.  393.  Tho  opinion,  on  this  subject,  of  a  statesman  like 
Canning,  stamped  with  the  approval  of  Sir  Robert  Peel,  may  not 
be  deemed  inopportune  here.  We  give  it  as  we  find  it,  with  the 
introductory  remark,  in  a  note  on  page  39,  of  the  first  volume  of 
the  interesting  "  Life  and  Correspondence  of  Joseph  Heed,  Mili- 
tary Secretary  to  Washington,  etc.,"  by  his  grandson — our  re- 
spected and  learned  friend  —  William  B.  Reed,  Esquire,  of  Phil- 
adelphia :  —  "In  contrast,"  says  Mr.  Reed, "  with  the  blind  fanat- 
icism of  British  statesmanship  at  this  period  ( 1 766 ),  I  cannot  refrain 
from  alluding  to  the  tone  of  debate  on  a  recent  occasion  in  Par- 
liament. In  1834,  on  the  Jamaica  bill,  Sir  Robert  Peel  cited 
with  warm  approval  Mr.  Canning's  doctrine  on  this  subject  6f 
parliamentary  supremacy  over  colonies.  — '  I  will  only  say  that 
no  feeling  of  wounded  pride,  no  motive  of  questionable  expedi- 
ency, nothing  short  of  real,  demonstrative  necessity,  shall  induce 
me  to  moot  tho  awful  question  of  the  transcendental  power  of 
Parliament  over  every  dependency  of  the  British  crown.  That 
transcendental  power  is  an  arcanum  of  empire,  which  ought  to  be 
kept  back  within  the  penetralia  of  the  Constitution.  It  exists, 
but  it  should  be  veiled.  It  should  not  bs  produced  on  trifling 
occasions,  or  in  cases  of  petty  refractiousness,  or  temporary  mis- 
conduct. It  should  be  brought  forward  only  in  tlie  utmost  ex- 
tremity of  the  state,  when  other  remedies  have  failed  to  stay  the 
raging  of  some  moral  or  political  pestilence.'  (Hansard,  vol. 
xlvii.  p.  767.)    This  was  not  the  tone  in  1765  and  1774." 


100 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


thority  of  their  respective  assemblies,  I  must  own 
I  think  you  had  no  business  to  revive  a  question 
which  should^  and  probably  would,  have  lain  dor- 
mantfor  ever.^  If  you  mean  that  the  Americans 
should  be  authorized  to  send  their  representa- 
tives to  the  ^Pritish  parliament,  I  shall  be  con- 
tented with  referring  you  to  what  Mr.  Burke  has 
said  upon  this  subject,  and  will  not  venture  to  add 
any  thing  of  my  own,  for  fear  of  discovering  an 
offensive  disregard  of  your  opinion.  Since  the 
repeal  of  the  stamp-act,  I  know  of  no  acts  tend- 
ing to  tax  the  Americans,  except  that  which  cre- 
ates the  tea-duty ;  and  even  that  can  hardly  be 
called  internal.  Yet  it  ought  to  be  repealed,  as  an 
impolitic  act,  not  as  an  oppressive  one.  It  pre- 
serves the  contention  between  the  mother-country 
and  the  colonies,  when  every  thing  worth  con- 
tending for  is  in  reality  given  up."  ^ 

And  lastly,  —  in  Letter  No.  79,  to  Wilkes, 
Nov.  6,  1771 :  —  "  My  American  namesake  ^  is 
plainly  a  man  of  abilities,  though  I  think  a  little 
unreasonable,  when  he  insists  upon  more  than  an 
absolute  surrender  of  the  fact.  I  agree  with  him 
that  it  is  a  hardship  on  the  Americans  to  be 
taxed  by  the  British  legislature ;  but  it  is  a  hard- 


^  Junius  had  previously  said,  in  the  same  letter  (p.  279), — 
"  There  are  questions  which,  in  good  policy,  you  should  never 
provoke  the  people  in  general  to  ask  themselves." 

a  Vol.  i.  293. 

>  Dr.  Lee,  who  wrote  under  the  signature  Junius  Americanus. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


101 


lever 


ship  inseparable  in  theory  from  the  condition  of 
colonists,  in  which  they  have  voluntarily  placed 
themselves.  If  emigration  be  no  crime  to  deserve 
punishment,  it  is  certainly  no  virtue  to  claim  ex- 
emption ;  and  however  it  may  have  proved  even- 
tually beneficial,  the  mother-country  was  but  little 
obliged  to  the  intentions  of  the  first  emigrants. 
But,  in  fact,  change  of  place  does  not  exempt 
from  subjection:  —  the  members  of  our  factories 
settled  under  foreign  governments,  and  whose 
voluntary  banishment  is  much  more  laudable 
with  regard  to  the  mother-country,  are  taxed  with 
the  laws  of  consulage.  Au  reste,  I  see  no  use  in 
fighting  this  question  in  the  newspapers,  nor 
have  I  time.  You  may  assure  Dr.  Lee,  that  to 
mi/  heart  and  understanding,  the  names  of  Amer- 
ican and  Englishman  are  synonymous^  and  that  as 
to  any  future  taxation  of  America^  I  look  upon  it 
as  near  to  impossible  as  the  highest  improbability 
cango^^ 

The  preceding  extracts  are  made  thus  full,  in 
order  that  the  reader  may,  at  a  glance,  judge  for 
himself,  whether  they  exhibit  any  thing  on  which 
to  found  the  oft  repeated  accusation — already  al- 
luded to  —  that  Junius  was  a  bitter  enemy  of  the 
colonies,  and  a  bigoted  advocate  of  the  mother- 
country's  tyranny  towards  them.  We  do  not  hes- 
itate in  answering  for  him  in  the  negative.     Yet, 


kus. 


1  Vol.  i.  330. 


102 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


the  extracts  contain  all  —  except  a  few  unimpor- 
tant sentences  —  that  is  to  be  found  relating  to 
the  colonies,  in  the  avowed  writings  of  Junius, 
including  his  private  letters  to  Wilkes ;  and  con- 
sequently, all  upon  which  the  accusation  can, 
with  justice  to  Junius,  be  based. 

In  evidence  of  the  coincidence  of  Governor 
Pownall's  opinions  with  those  of  Junius,  expressed 
in  the  above  extracts,  we  begin  by  referring  to 
the  dedication  of  the  fourth  edition  of  his  Admin' 
istration  of  the  Colonies^  to  the  Right  Honourable 
George  Grenville ;  which  dedication  must  have 
been  written,  and  published,  only  a  few  months 
before  the  first  letter  of  Junius  made  its  appear- 
ance in  The  Public  Advertiser.  "  You  had  con- 
ceived"—  wrote  Gov.  P.  —  "that  government 
hath  a  right  to  avail  itself  in  its  finances,  of  the 
revenues  of  all  its  dominions ;  and  that  the  im- 
posing [upon  the  Colonies]  taxes  by  parliament, 
for  that  purpose,  was  the  constitutional  mode  of 
doing  this.  The  colonists,  who  were  not  repre- 
sented in  parliament  by  knights,  and  burges- 
ses of  their  own  election,  *did  apprehend,  they 
had  reason  to  fear  some  danger  of  arbitrary  rule 
over  them,  when  the  supreme  power  of  the  na- 
tion had  thought  proper  to  impose  taxes  on  his 
Majesty's  American  subjects,  with  the  sole  and 
express  purpose  of  raising  a  revenue,  and  with- 
out their  consent.'  Parliament  had,  by  a  solemn 
act,  declared,  that  it  hath  a  right  to  make  laws 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


103 


which  shall  be  binding  upon  the  people  of  the 
Colonies,  subjects  of  Great  Britain,  in  all  cases 
whatsoever^  —  while  the  colonists  say,  in  all  cases 
which  can  consist  with  the  fundamental  rules  of  the 
constitution ;  by  which  limitation,  they  except  the 
case  of  taxation,  where  there  is  not  representation. 
Hence  the  colonists  have,  by  many,  been  deemed 
factious,  undutiful  and  disloyal ;  and  even  charge* 
able  with  treason  itself. 

"  ....  It  is  a  great  pity  that  questions  of  this 
nature  were  ever  raised,  * '  for,  it  is  a  very  unsafe 
thing  in  settled  governments,  to  argue  the  reason 
of  the  fundamental  constitutions.'  —  But  when 
contrary  propositions  are  alternately  brought  for- 
ward by  the  representatives  of  two  people,  as  the 
avowed  principles  of  their  respective  constituents ; 
when  an  inferior  government,  which  invariably 
acknowledges  its  dependence  on  a  superior  and 
supreme  government,  thinks  it  hath  a  right  to  call 
into  question  some  particular  exertions  of  power 
in  that  government,  by  rules  which  limit  the  extent 
of  that  power,  it  is  absolutely  necessary,  either  to 
decide  such  question,  or  to  give  such  explanations 


"*Comm.  Journal,  1672."  Note:  The  asterisk  is  here  placed,  as 
it  frequently  is  in  other  places,  by  Gov.  Pownall,  at  the  beginning 
of  the  passage  quoted,  instead  of  at  the  end,  as  is  usually  done. 
The  same  thing  has  been  observed  in  the  writings  of  Junius,  that 
is  to  say,  in  his  own  edition  of  1772.  In  G.  Woodfall's  edition 
of  1814,  the  asterisk,  or  other  note-mark,  has,  in  general,  been 
removed  to  the  end  of  the  quotation. 


104 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


of  the  matter,  that  it  may  cease  to  be  a  question ; 
.  .  .  .  — The  matter  is  in  that  state,  that  it  ought 
to  come  before  parliament ;  it  must;  it  will ;  —  it 
is  necessary  to  the  support  of  government  that  it 
should ;  —  it  is  necessary  to  the  security  of  the 
nation  and  its  interest;  —  it  is  necessary  to  the 
peace,  liberties,  and  constitutions  of  the  Colonies; 
it  is  necessary  to  the  safety  of  ministers.  .... 
I  show  that  the  colonies,  although  without  the 
limits  of  the  realm,  are  yet  in  fact,  of  the  realm ; 
are  annexed^  if  not  yet  united  parts  of  the  realm ; 
are  precisely  in  the  predicament  of  the  counties 
palatine  of  Durham  and  Chester ;  and  therefore 
ought,  in  the  same  manner,  to  be  united  to  the 
realm^  in  as  full  and  absolute  communication  and 
communion  of  all  rights,  franchises  and  liberties, 
as  any  other  part  of  the  realm  hath,  or  doth  enjoy, 
or  ought  to  have  and  to  enjoy :  in  communication 
of  the  same  burdens,  offices,  and  emoluments ;  in 
communion  of  the  same  fcederal  and  commercial 
rights  ;  in  the  same  exercise  of  judicial  and  exec- 
utive powers  ;  in  the  same  participation  of  coun- 
cil.—  And  that,  therefore,  in  the  course  and  pro- 
cedure of  our  government  with  the  Colonies,  there 
must  arise  a  duty  in  government  to  give,  a  right 
in  the  Colonies  to  claim,  a  share  in  the  legislature 
of  Great  Britain,  by  having  knights  and.burgesses 
of  their  own  election,  representing  them  in  par- 
liament." 

The  following  extracts  are    from    Governor 


JUNIUS  DISCOVEH^D. 


105 


Pownall's  speech  in  the  House  of  Commons  on 
the  8th  of  February,  1769,  on  a  proposed  amend- 
ment to  the  address  to  the  King  before  mentioned) 
when  it  was  brought  up  with  the  report  from  the 
Committee.*  Although  all  the  extracts  tend  to 
support  our  proposition,  yet  they  are  a  little  more 
extended  than  is  absolutely  necessary,  for  the 
purpose  of  showing  the  identity  of  the  Governor's 
style  of  thought  and  reasoning,  with  that  of  Ju- 
nius. 

"  On  one  hand  you  have  your  declaratory  law 
•—  your  revenue  laws  as  the  exertion  of  the  de- 
clared right,  —  you  have  your  commissioners  to 
execute  these  laws  —  and  the  military  to  enforce 
this  execution.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Ameri- 
cans do  universally,  invariably,  and  unalterably 
declare,  that  they  ought  not  to  submit  to  any  in- 
ternal taxes  imposed  upon  them  by  any  legisla- 
ture wherein  they  have  not  representatives  of  their 
own  election.  On  this  principle,  they  oppose  such 
taxes  by  their  petitions  and  remonstrances  '  only, 
as  yet,'  —  but  there  is  something  threatening  in 
the  bad  temper  and  ill  blood  which  seems  to  be 
forced  up — so  that  the  issue  is  wellnigh  brought 
to  force.  The  people  of  that  country  and  the 
King's  troops  are,  as  it  were,  set  in  array  against 
each  other.  The  sword  indeed  is  not  drawn  — 
but  the  hand  is  upon  it.     The  word  for  action  is 


1  Hansard's  Pari.  History,  v.  xvi.  p.  496  et  seq. 


106 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


not  indeed  yet  given,  but  mischief  is  on  tip-toe ; 
and  the  slightest  circumstance  would  in  a  mo- 
ment throw  every  thing  into  confusion  and  blood- 
shed. And  if  some  '  mode  of  policy '  does  not 
interfere  to  remove  this  exertion  of  military  power 

—  the  union  between  Great  Britain  and  North 
America  is  broken  for  ever  —  unless  (which  is 
worse)  both  are  united  in  one  common  ruin. 

"  Where  the  whole  spirit  and  bent  of  a  people, 
who  have  the  powers  of  government  within  them- 
selves, is  fixed  and  determined  against  a  tax  — 
experience  and  common  sense  will  convince  you, 
that  no  civil  power,  no  civil  coercion,  will  ever 
assess  or  collect  it.  It  will  be  found  also  in  the 
trial,  fact,  that  no  military  force  can  do  this,  —  it 
never  did,  so  long  as  the  '  forms '  only  of  govern- 
ment remained:  it  cannot  assess  or  collect;  it 
may  raise  a  contribution  by  '  military  execution ' 

—  but  that  is  not '  government,'  it  is  *  war.'  .  .  . 
"  .  .  .  .  yet,  if  you  attempt  to   force   taxes 

against  the  spirit  of  the  people  there,  you  will  find, 
when  perhaps  it  is  too  late,  that  they  are  of  a 
spirit  which  will  resist  all  force ;  which  will  grow 
stronger  by  being  forced  ;  will  prove  superior  to 
all  force,  and  ever  has  been  unconquerable :  they 
are  of  a  spirit  to  abide,  nay,  to  court  persecution  : 
and  if  amonget  other  propositions  which  they 
have  taken  up,  they  should  once  take  it  into  their 
heads  that  they  are  under  a  state  of  persecution, 
that  spirit  of  enthusiasm  which  is  of  their  temper, 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


107 


it 


and  of  their  very  nature,  will  arise,  and  every 
mischievous  consequence,  in  every  extreme  will 
accompany  it.^  This  spirit  is  not  dead  in  them ; 
it  is  only  dormant ;  the  utmost  care  and  skill  of 
those  who  lead  them,  either  in  civil  or  religious 
matters,  is  employed  to  restrain  and  keep  it  c!own. 
If  this  spirit  should  once  take  fire,  (and  bf  lieve 
me.  Sir,  it  is  in  such  a  state  of  inflammability 
that  the  smallest  spark  would  give  it  fire,)  it  wilT 
break  out  into  a  flame  which  no  reason,  no  pru- 
dence, no  force  can  restrain :  ^  those  who  yet  re- 
tain some  lead,  and  have  kept  matters  from  run- 
ning to  extremities,  to  whom  the  people  still  listen, 
will  either  lose  that  lead,  or  will  take  the  lead  of 
this  spirit  when  it  shall  be  once  gone  forth ;  and 
if  the  ministers  (whom  we  here  call  the  clergy) 
once  fall  in  with  this  spirit,  —  if  the  people  once 
call  upon  them,  they  must  take  the  lead ;  and  if 
they  do,  the  people  (to  use  their  own  phrase)  will 


1 "  But  I  see  the  spirit  which  has  gone  abroad  through  the  col- 
onies, and  I  know  what  consequences  that  spirit  must  and  will 
produce.  If  it  be  determined  to  enforce  the  authority  of  the  leg- 
islature, the  event  will  be  uncertain ;  but  if  we  yield  to  the  pre- 
tensions of  America,  there  is  no  further  doubt  about  the  matter. 
From  that  moment  they  become  an  independent  people,  they  open 
their  trade  with  the  rest  of  the  world,  and  England  is  undone."  — 
Junius,  Misc.  Letter  XLV.,  Oct.  6,  1768.     Vol.  iii.  159. 

2  "  This  treatment  of  the  colonics  .  .  .  will  naturally  throio  them 
cdl  into  aflame."  —  "  The  first  act  of  his  own  administration  was 
to  impose  that  tax  upon  America,  which  has  since  thrown  the  whole 
continent  into  a  flame." — Misc.  Letters  XLVIIL  and  LL,  vol.  iii. 
173,  185. 


108 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


be  led  by  Moses  and  Aaron,  by  the  civil  and  reli- 
gious, under  a  bond  of  unity  that  no  factions  will 
divide,  no  force  can  break.  The  spirit  of  their 
religion,  or  if  ycu  please  so  to  call  it,  of  fanati- 
cism, will,  like  Moses'  serpent,  devour  every  other 
passion  and  affection :  their  love  for  the  mother- 
country,  changing  its  nature,  will  turn  to  the  bit- 
terest hate ;  their  affectation  of  our  modes  and 
fashions  (the  present  source  of  great  part  of  our 
commerce),  will  become  an  abomination  in  their 
sight. 

"  That  spirit  which  led  their  ancestors  to  break 
off  from  every  thing  which  is  near  and  dear  to 
the  human  heart ;  from  every  connexion  which 
friendship,  relation,  blood  could  give ;  which  led 
them  to  quit  every  comfort  that  a  settled  and  civ- 
ilized country  (their  own  native  country)  could 
afford ;  and  to  encounter  every  difficulty  and  dis- 
tress which  a  wild  wilderness  of  savages  could 
oppose  to  them,  to  struggle  even  for  their  exist- 
ence ;  ^  that  spirit,  equally  strong  and  equally  in- 
flamed, has  but  a  slight  and  trifling  sacrifice  to 
make  at  this  time ;  they  have  not  to  quit  their 
native  country,  but  to  defend  it ;  they  have  not 
to  forsake  their  friends  and  relations,  but  to  ilnite 
with  and  to  stand  by  them,  in  one  common  union. 


1  Ten  months  after  this  speech  was  delivered,  Junius  wrote,  in 
reference  to  the  American  colonists,  — "  They  left  their  native 
land  in  search  of  freedom,  and  found  it  in  a  desert."  Letter  (to 
the  King)  xxxv.,  Dec.  19,  1769,  vol.  ii.  77. 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


109 


The  only  sacrifice  they  have  to  make  is  that  of 
a  few  follies  and  a  few  luxuries.  It  is  not  neces- 
sity that  is  the  ground  of  their  commerce  with 
you ;  it  is  merely  the  affection  of  your  modes  and 
customs ;  the  love  for  home^  as  they  call  England, 
that  makes  them  like  every  thing  that  comes  from 
thence :  but  passion  may  be  conquered  by  pas- 
sion, and  they  will  abominate  as  sincerely  as  they 
now  love  you ;  and  if  they  do,  they  have  within 
themselves  every  thing  which  is  necessary  to  the 
food,  raiment,  or  the  dwelling  of  mankind,  and 
have  no  need  of  your  commerce.    *    •    • 

"  Truth  lies  in  a  very  narrow  compass.  *  *  * 
"  The  ground  that  this  business  doth  actually 
stand  upon  is  this :  you  have  now  no  internal  taxes 
upon  which  questions  may  be  raised  or  dispute 
arise  with  the  Americans.  You  have  no  conces- 
sions to  make,  no  repeals  as  to  internal  taxes. 
*  *  *  *  there  is  not  at  present  any  intention  of 
extending  the  exercise  of  our  power  to  the  laying 
internal  taxes ;  nor  will  any  future  ministry  (be 
they  composed  of  whomsoever  they  may)  ever 

venture  to  lay  internal  taxes 

"  Let  the  matter  of  right  rest  upon  the  declara- 
tory law,  and  say  no  more  about  it.  It  may  be 
understood  (as  it  is  in  the  same  words  as  in  that 
respecting  Ireland),  —  that  it  shall  stand  in  the 
same  line  of  administration  —  I  say  it  may  be  so 
understood,  and  will  be  better  understood  by  be- 
ing never  explained.    Do  nothing  which  may 


110 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


bring  into  discussion  *  questions  of  right/  whicli 
must  become  '  mere  articles  of  faith.*  ....  Ex- 
ert the  spirit  of  policy,  that  you  may  not  ruin  the 
colonies  and  yourselves  by  exerting  force." 

The  relative  term  mother-country^  it  will  be  ob- 
served, is  used  by  Governor  Pownall  and  Junius 
with  equal  familiarity ;  and  in  a  manner  which 
appears  more  natural  to  a  colonist,  or  to  one  who 
has  long  resided  in  the  colonies,  than  to  one  who 
—  speaking  or  writing  in  England  —  has  never 
been  beyond  "  the  four  seas." 

The  following  is  from  a  speech  of  Governor 
Pownall,  in  April,  (?)  1769,  in  support  of  his  own 
motion  for  the  repeal  of  the  American  revenue 
act.^ 

"  And  first,  of  the  sovereignty  and  supremacy 
of  parliaments.  That  is  a  line  from  which  you 
ought  never  to  deviate,  which  ought  never  to  be 
out  of  sight.  The  parliament  hath,  and  must 
have,  from  the  nature  and  essence  of  the  consti- 
tution, has  had,  and  ever  will  have,  a  sovereign 
supreme  power  and  jurisdiction  over  every  part 
of  the  dominions  of  the  state,  to  make  laws  in  all 
cases  whatsoever ;  this  is  a  proposition  which  ex- 
ists of  absolute  necessity  —  its  truth  is  intuitive, 
and  need  not  be  demonstrated,  —  and  yet,  there 
may  be  times  and  occasions  when  this  ought  to 
be  declared  and  held  forth  to  the  eyes  and  notice 


1  Hansard,  xvi.  612. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


Ill 


je 


of  the  subject.  Such  was  the  time  when  the  law 
declaring  this  power  was  made ;  it  enacted  noth- 
ing new ;  it  declared  no  power  that  did  not  exist 
before ;  but  it  was  like  the  hoisting  your  colours, 
the  fixing  your  standard,  to  which  all  true  patri- 
ots of  this  country  might  repair,  under  which  they 
might  arrange  themselves,  and  to  which  the  duty 
and  obedience  of  all  might  be  directed ;  and  as 
you  cannot,  as  you  ought  not,  to  give  up  the  least, 
the  most  inconsiderable  point  of  this  right,  of  this 
power  thus  claimed,  so  ought  you  not,  so  can  you 
not,  lower  these  colours  one  inch,  nor  remove 
your  standard  for  a  moment. 

**  Although  the  declaratory  law  is  no  part  of 
the  superstructure  of  the  edifice  of  our  constitu- 
tion, yet.  Sir,  it  is  a  visible  sign  and  symbol  of 
its  sovereignty  affixed  to  it ;  and  if  ever  any  one, 
now  it  is  so  fixed  as  a  symbol  on  the  edifice, 
should  attempt  to  eraze  or  remove  it,  the  whole 
edifice  would  fall  to  pieces. 

"  This,  Sir,  is  my  idea  of  the  sovereignty  of 
parliament ;  this  is  my  idea  of  the  law  which  de- 
clares it ;  and  if  I  could  think  myself  capable  of 
proposing  any  thing  which  might  derogate  from 
this,  even  in  an  to  to,  I  should  not  only  think  my- 
self unworthy  of  being  a  member  of  this  House, 
but  even  a  member  of  the  community.  When, 
therefore,  people  say  that  when  the  colonies  re- 
cede, the  proper  occasion  will  arise  wherein  the 
government  of  Great  Britain  may  concede ;  I  say 


112 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


that  occasion  never  can  arise.  Great  Britain 
ought  never  to  concede,  if  by  those  concessions 
are  meant  the  giving  up  any  of  the  rights  or  pow- 
ers which  are  necessary  to  the  supremacy  and 
sovereignty;  nor  is  it  what  the. colonies  either 
wish,  des;re,  or  expect.  They  only  wish  to  hold 
under  this  supremacy  those  rights  which  they 
have  hitherto  enjoyed,  and  to  exercise  them  in 
the  manner  in  which  they  have  been  hitherto  per- 
mitted to  use  them. 

"  .  .  .  .  You  have,  in  the  plenifude  of  your 
power,  not  only  rejected  the  petitions  of  the  col- 
onies, but  you  have  renounced  the  principles 
which  those  petitions  contain ;  and  yet,  they  con* 

tinue  to  obey  to  tKis  hour Matters  are 

now  brought  to  a  crisis  at  w^hich  they  never  will 
be  again ;  if  this  occasion  is  now  lost,  it  is  Jost 
for  ever.  K  this  session  elapses  with  parliament's 
doing  nothing,  American  affairs  will  perhaps  be 
impracticable  for  ever  after. —  You  may  exert 
power  over,  but  you  can  never  govern  an  unwill- 
ing people ;  ^  they  will  be  able  to  obstruct  and 
pervert  every  effort  of  your  policy ;  they  will  ren- 
der ineffectual  every  exertion  of  your  government, 
and  will  shut  up  every  source,  one  after  another, 
by  which  you  should  derive  any  benefit  or  ad- 
vantage from  them When  we  consider 


1 A  little  before  he  had  said — "even  despotism  itself  cannot 
command  the  will." 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


113 


this  law  as  a  measure  of  finance,  the  fact  upon 
your  table  proclaims  its  insufficiency,  for  the  sum 
returned,  as  its  whole  net  produce,  amounts  but 
to  <£295,  and  a  few  shillings." 

The  act  in  question  was  the  7  Geo.  III.,  cap. 
46,  imposing  duties,  on  a  variety  of  articles,  in 
the  colonies ;  and  Governor  Pownall's  motion 
was,  for  the  House  to  resolve  itself  into  a  com- 
mittee of  the  whole  to  consider  the  act ;  when  he 
purposed  to  offer  certain  propositions,  declaring 
—  that  the  act  had  a  tendency  to  obstruct  the 
vent  of  British  manufactures  and  merchandise  in 
the  colonies,  and  to  render  the  colonies  less  ben- 
eficial and  advantageous  to  Great  Britain ;  — 
that  it  had  not  answered  its  purport  and  intent  of 
raising  a  revenue ;  —  and  that  the  repeal  of  the 
duties  was,  tipon  commercial  considerations  alone, 
highly  proper  and  necessary.  —  "Every  person 
seemed  to  agree  with  the  motion ;  but  the  minis- 
try complaining  that  the  late  time  of  the  session 
would  not  allow  a  matter  of  so  much  conse- 
quence to  be  properly  agitated,  as  they  were  not 
prepared  for  it,  —  a  motion  was  made  to  put  it 
off  till  next  session."  ^  In  the  next  session  (March 
5, 1770),  Lord  North,  after  stating,  that  "it  must 
astonish  every  reasonable  man  to  think  how  so 
preposterous  a  law  could  originally  obtain  exist- 
ence from  a  British  legislature,"  moved  for  leave 


1  Hansard's  Pari.  Hist.,  x\i.  622. 

8 


\ 


114 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


to  introduce  a  bill,  repealing  all  the  duties,  except 
the  duty  vpon  tea.  This  was  resisted  by  Gover- 
nor Pownall,  because  of  the  exception ;  and  be- 
cause also,  that  it  kept  "  the  preamble  of  the  act 
as  a  yoke  upon  the  neck  of  the  Americans ; "  — 
he  therefore  moved,  in  amendment,  for  the  entire 
repeal  of  the  act  of  the  7  Geo.  III.  In  the  course 
of  his  speech  he  said,  —  "I  feel,  Sir,  in  a  very 
sensible  manner,  the  disadvantages  under  which 
any  one  rises  in  this  House  to  speak  on  Ameri- 
can affairs,  if  it  be  supposed  that  he  means  to 
speak  in  favour  of  the  Americans.  I  am  aware 
of,  and  wish  I  could  obviate  these  prejudices, 
which  prevent  every  argument  offered  in  re- 
straint to  the  exertion  of  the  power  of  the  House. 
I  know  that  what  I  am  now  going  to  speak  may 
be  misconstrued,  and  imputed  to  party  and  to 
faction,  wishing  to  profit  of  the  uneasiness  and 
disquiets  which  are  raised  in  the  minds  of  the 
subjects  in  America ;  so  as  to  take  such  ground 
for  the  purposes  of  opposing  and  distressing  ad- 
ministration, as  must  widen  the  breach  now  made 

between  the  two  countries I  am  conscious, 

that  in  what  I  must  necessarily  say,  it  will  be 
imputed  to  me,  that  I  am  stirring  up  the  question 
of  right,  and  taking  part  with  the  faction  in  Amer- 
ica, against  the  sovereignty  of  this  country :  on 
the  contrary,  if  there  did  not  remain  (after  this 
act  of  the  7th  of  Geo.  III.  shall  be  repealed,)  one 
act  declaring  the  right  of  parliament,  and  another, 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


115 


viz.  the  4th  of  Geo.  III.,  exerting  that  right,  I 
would  not  now  take  the  part  I  mean  to  take  in 
this  debate.  If  I  saw  that  there  could  any  thing 
possibly  arise  (these  acts  remaining)  which  could 
agitate  that  question,  I  would  withdraw  from  this 
debate ;  because,  whatever  may  be  my  opinion 
of  the  right,  as  now  stated,  I  know  it  never  will 
be  decided  by  arguments,  reasonings,  resolutions, 
or  even  acts  of  parliament.  It  will  be  decided  by 
power ;  and  I  know  that  we  never  shall  have  any 
power  which  we  shall  think  reasonable  to  hazard 
by  exerting  —  while  the  colonies  will  every  day 
grow  more  and  more  into  a  capacity  of  disarm- 
ing, if  not  of  resisting  that  power :  it  is  wise, 
therefore,  that  the  question  should  remain,  as  it 
will,  by  the  declaratory  act,  and  the  4th  of  Geo. 
III.  But  this  day's  debate  arises  from  a  neces- 
sity of  acting ;  as  that  necessity  is  derived  from 
the  simple  fact  of  the  suspension  of  your  com- 
merce, in  consequence  of  an  imprudent  exertion 

of  your  power But  why  should  I  combat 

these  reasons — they  are  the  artificial,  the  osten- 
sible reasons  only.  The  true  reason  of  making 
the  distinction  is  —  that  by  thus  continuing  the 
duty  on  tea,  you  preserve  the  preamble  of  the  act, 
you  still  keep  the  yoke  about  the  neck  of  the  Amer' 
leans ;  although  you  avow  that  you  do  not  mean, 
you  have  not  indeed  any  hopes,  that  you  shall  be 
ever  able  to  make  them  draw  in  it."     The  amend- 


116 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


ment  being  put,  there  were  —  yeas  142,  noes  204 ; 
BO  it  passed  in  the  negative.^ 

In  the  preceding  session  of  parliament,  namely, 
on  the  26th  of  January,  1769,  Governor  Pownall 
played  a  very  conspicuous  part  in  "  the  grand  de- 
bate on  the  North  American  affairs,"  as  it  is  called 
in  Hansard.  It  was  on  a  motion  for  the  concur- 
rence of  the  Commons  in  certain  resolutions,  with 
an  address  to  the  King,  relative  to  the  proceedings 
of  the  House  of  representatives  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  and  the  riots  in  Boston,  which  had  been 
sent  down  from  the  House  of  Lords.  The  speak- 
ers were  Lord  North,  the  Attorney  and  Solicitor- 
Generals  (DeGrey  and  Dunning),  Mr.  Price,  Mr. 
Hussey,  and  Mr.  Dyson,^  for  the  question ;  and 
Sir  George  Savile,  Mr.  Burke,  Mr.  Dowdeswell,' 
Colonel  Barr^,  Mr.  Grenville,  Mr.  Beckford,  Mr. 
Fuller,  and  Governor  Pownall,  against  it.  Al- 
though the  debate  is  stated,  in  Hansard,  to  have 
been  "  very  fine  indeed,"  none  of  the  speeches, 
but  Governor  Pownall's,  are  reported;  and,  of 
that,  the  substance  only  of  a  part  is  given.  Inter 
alia,  "  he  showed  that  the  charge  contained  in  the 
first  resolution  went  upon  a  total  mistake  of  the 
evidence  brought  to  support  it,  so  gross  as  to  ac- 


1  Hansard's  Pari.  Hist.,  xvi.  856-870,  and  874. 

2  Junius's  ./erjy  D^son,  vol.  i.  238,  No.  44;  and  vol.  ii.  131, 
lett.  xxxviii. 

'  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  daring  Lord  Rockingham's  ad- 
ministration. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


117 


cuse  the  House  of  representatives  at  Boston,  of 
coming  to  a  positive  resolution  which  had  re- 
ceived its  negative  in  that  very  House,  and  was 
not  upon  their  journals,  although  the  resolution 
proposed  by  the  House  of  Commons  referred  to  it 
as  if  really  there  existing.  ....  Mr.  Dyson  en- 
deavored to  parry  the  objection,  by  referring  to 
the  amendment  respecting  the  date  of  the  As- 
sembly's resolve.  But  the  Governor  still  insisted 
that  there  was  'no  such  resolve  existing;'  — 
Mr.  Burke  hoped  the  ministry  would  not  draw 
the  House  of  Commons  '  into  a  positive  error  in 
fact ;'-—....  Mr.  Grenville  said,  if  there  was 
any  such  resolution  on  the  journals  of  the  Boston 
Assembly,  he  desired  it  might  be  read.  Others 
called  out  *  read  —  read.'  This  threw  the  whole 
bench  of  ministers  and  clerks  into  a  most  ridic- 
ulous confusion,  as  they  could  not,  when  now 
called  upon,  in  the  face  of  the  House,  find  any 
such :  the  business  of  the  House  stood  still ;  one 
side  laughing,  the  other  side  in  the  most  shame- 
ful perplexity,  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour. 
Under  this  state  of  perplexity,  Mr.  Baker  moved, 
that  the  House  should  adjourn,  to  give  the  gen- 
tlemen time  to  produce  their  evidence.  Governor 
Poivnall  then  showed  them  how  their  mistake 
arose ;  but  as  they  were  not  willing  to  own  it, 
they  rested  on  Mr.  Dyson's  amendment.  And 
the  chorus-men,  who  at  proper  times  call  for  the 
question,  helped  them  out  at  this  dead-lift  by  an 


118 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


incessant  recitation  of  the  word  *  question,  ques- 
tion, question.'  At  length,  at  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  the  whole  House  in  confusion,  laughing, 
etc.,  the  resolutions  and  address  were  agreed  to. 
Upon  which  a  member  remarked,  it  was  inde- 
cent to  bring  us  resolves  ready  cut  and  dried,  only 
for  the  drudgery  of  passing  them :  it  was  inde- 
cent to  do  it  without  evidence,  and  highly  so  to 
answer  all  arguments  with  —  'the  question!  — 
the  question ! '  "  ^  In  this  disgraceful  treatment 
of  a  momentous  question,  that  (to  use  the  im- 
pressive language  of  Junius,  in  his  first  letter, 
published  but  five  days  previously),  "  in  (its  ul- 
timate) effect  divided  one  half  of  the  empire  from 
the  other,"  ^  we  can  see  "  ample  room  and  verge 
enough,"  aye  —  and  excuse  too  —  for  the  subse- 
quent conduct  of  Junius,  in  "  coming  down  souse 
upon  both  Houses  of  Parliament,"  ^  and  particu- 
larly upon  the  House  of  Commons,  and  the  indi- 
vidual members  of  the  Cabinet. 

In  referring  to  Governor  Pownall's  work  enti- 
tled—  The  Administration  of  the  Colonies,  we 
stated,  that  it  was  dedicated  to  the  Right  Hon- 
ourable George  Grenville ;  and  every  reader  of  the 
Letters  of  Junius  has  remarked,  the  respectful,  and 
even  laudatory  terms  in  which  Mr.  Grenville  is 
always  therein  mentioned.     The  Lllird  of  the 


1  Hansard's  Pari.  Hist.,  xvi.  485-487. 

2  Vol.  i.  395. 
8  Mr.  Burke. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


119 


Miscellaneovs  Letters  i»  addressed  to  him,  and  is 
the  only  letter  in  (1.  Woodfall's  collection  so  ad- 
dressed. Taking  the  avowed  letters  and  the  mis- 
cellaneous ones  together,  in  the  order  of  their 
dates,  this  letter  will  be  found  immediately  to  fol- 
low the  first  one  of  the  latter  which  bears  the  sig- 
nature Junius,^  and  to  precede  the  first  in  date  of 
the  former;  their  respective  dates  being — Nov. 
21,  and  Dec.  15,  1768,  and  Jan.  21,  1769.  This 
letter  bears  no  signature ;  but,  as  it  not  only  does 
not  contain  any  thing  in  disaccordance  with  the 
acknowledged  letters,  but  bears  an  intrinsic  im- 
press of  being  genuine,  we  do  not  hesitate  to  use 
it ;  and  we  do  so  the  more  readily,  as  it  was  on 
a  chance  perusal  of  the  dedication  of  Governor 
Pownall's  work,  that  this  letter  to  Mr.  Grenville 
suddenly  crossed  our  mind ;  and  the  comparison 
of  the  two  together,  which  immediately  followed, 
led  to  the  inquiry  which  has  resulted  in  our  sincere 
conviction,  that  in  the  author  of  the  dedication 
we  have  discovered  the  mysterious  and  long- 
sought  Junius. 

If  it  be  said,  that  the  assertion  of  Junius,  in  his 
letter  XVIIL, — that  he  had  "not  the  honour  of 
being  personally  known  to  Mr.  Grenville,"  ^  —  is 
repugnant  to  the  fact  of  Governor  Pownall's  pre- 


1  There  are  only  two  others  of  the  Misc.  Letters  signed  Junius, 
viz.  LIV.  and  LIX.,  respectively  dated  April  12,  and  Sept.  7, 
1769. 

2  Vol.  i.  533. 


120 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


Ill 


ri  ! 


vious  dedication  of  his  book  to  him,  we  would 
answer, — there  is  nothing  in  the  dedication — at 
all  events,  in  the  one  prefixed  to  the  fourth  edi- 
tion of  the  book — that  indicates  whether  Mr. 
Grenville's  permission  for  the  dedication  to  him 
was  first  obtained ;  and,  even  if  it  were,  it  does 
not  follow  that  it  was  obtained  upon  such  an  in- 
troduction as  would  entitle  Governor  Pownall  af- 
terwards to  say,  that  he  was  personally  known 
to  Mr.  Grenville: — on  the  contrary,  if  asked  for 
at  all,  the  permission  is  more  likely  to  have  been 
obtained  by  letter,  inasmuch  as,  at  the  time  of 
the  dedication  of  the  first  edition,  Mr.  Grenville 
was  principal  Secretary  of  State,  and  possessed 
of  "  a  manner  rather  austere  and  forbidding,"  ^ — 
circumstances  which,  probably,  did  not  tend  to 
relax,  even  to  an  erc-governor  of  a  colony,  the 
aristocratic  etiquette  of  that  day,  in  regard  to  per- 
sonal introductions.  The  letter  in  which  the  as- 
sertion of  Junius  is  to  be  found,  bears  date  the 
29th  of  July,  1769 ;  and  we  shall  presently  show 
facts  from  which  it  may  reasonably  be  inferred, 
that  Mr.  Grenville  and  Governor  Pownall  did 
become  personally  known  to  each  other,  but  at  a 
later  date.^ 

1  Knox's  Extra-ojficial  state  papers,  vol.  ii. 

2  Since  these  pages  were  written,  we  have  obtained  a  sight  of 
thejifth  edition  of  Governor  Pownall's  work,  published  in  1774, 
in  two  volumes,  under  the  title  of  The  Administration  of  the  British 
Colonies ;  and  find  in  the  Appendix  an  extract  of  a  letter  from 
Mr.  Grenville  to  Governor  P.,  dated  July  17, 1768;  acknowledge 


iiift      uUJtiimmhm 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


121 


We  now  give  some  extracts  from  the  dedica- 
tion and  letter,  respectively  (both  published  within 
a  few  months  of  each  other),  premising  —  that  as 
the  differences  of  opinion  alluded  to  in  the  for- 
mer, did  not  prevent  the  dedication  of  the  work 
to  Mr.  Grenville,  so  the  respectful  and  laudatory 
notices  of  him  by  Junius  did  not  forbid  their  en- 
tertaining opinions  of  a  very  opposite  character ; 
—  witness  Junius's  stern  denunciations  of  the 
measures  against  Wilkes,  which  were  commenced 
by  Mr.  Grenville,  —  and  his  condemnation  of  the 
stamp  act,  to  which  Mr.  Grenville  had  given 
birth.  Our  extracts  are  placed  in  juxtaposition, 
not  under  the  idea  of  exhibiting  in  them  any  very 
close  similarity  of  expression,  or  even  of  style ; 
but  as  showing,  in  bolder  relief,  the  strong  like- 
ness in  thought  and  sentiment,  as  well  as  in  ap- 
preciation of  the  merits  of  the  party  addressed. 


Mr.  PownaU's  Dedication  to  the  Junius's  Letter  to  the  Right  Hon. 

Right  Hon.  George  Grenville,  George  Grenville,  dated  Decern- 

in  —  or  shortly   before — July,  6erl5,  1768:  — 
1768:  — 

"  When  I  first  published  my        "  If  there  be  any  thing  im-  ^ 
opinions  iipon  the  administra-    proper  in  this  address,  the  sin> 

ing  the  honour  paid  in  the  dedication  to  him  of  the  fourth  and 
preceding  editions ;  but  it  contains  no  proof  of  the  parties  being 
personally  known  to  each  other.  As  the  extract,  however,  is  short, 
and  contains  Mr.  Grenville's  opinion  on  "  the  great  question  "  of 
colonial  representation  in  the  Imperial  parliament,  recently  (May 
27, 1852,)  revived  in  the  House  of  Lords  by  the  Earl  of  Harrowby, 
and  favourably  entertained  by  the  Earl  of  Derby,  we  gi  i*"  it  in  the 
Appendix. 


122 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


tion  of  the  colonies,  I  addressed 
the  book  to  you.    You  was  then 
minister  in  this  country,  and  had 
taken  an  active  and  leading  part 
in  the  administration  of  those 
affairs.    I  did  not  by  that  ad- 
dress dedicate,  as  is  the  usual 
phrase,  my  opinions  to  the  min- 
ister, for  our  opinions  differed 
on  several  points  :    But  as  dis- 
putes upon  a  question,  pregnant 
with  the  most  dangerous  conse- 
quences, began  to  be  agitated 
between   the  minister   of   this 
country  and  the  colonists,  which 
I  saw  must  soon  extend  them- 
selves in  contentions  with  par- 
liament itself:  As  I  saw  a  spirit 
of  suspicion  and  alarm  arising, 
a  temper  of  ill  blood  infusing  it- 
self into  the  minds  of  men ;  I  en- 
deavoured to  obviate  these  mis- 
chiefs, by  marking  in  that  ad- 
dress, that,  as  there  were  neither 
arbitrary  intentions  on  one  hand 
against  the  liberties  of  the  Col- 
onies, nor  rebellious  designs  on 
the  other  against  the  just  impe- 
rium  of  government;  so  there 
was  a  certain  good  temper  and 
right  spirit,  which,  if  observed 
on  all  sides,  might  bring  these 
matters  of  dispute  to  such  a  set- 
tlement as  political  truth  and 
liberty  are  best  established  upon. 

(77ie  extract   given    on   page 
102.) 

"  I  had  been  sufficiently  con- 


gularity  of  your  present  situa- 
tion will,  I  hope,   excuse   it. 
Your  conduct  attracts  the  atten- 
tion, because  it  is  highly  inter- 
esting to  the  welfare  of  the  pub- 
lic, and  a  private  man,  who  only 
expresses  whai  thousands  think, 
cannot  well  be  accused  of  flat- 
tery or  detraction.    If  we  may 
judge  by  what  passes  every  day 
in  a  great  assembly,  you  already 
possess  all  the  constituent  parts 
of  a  minister,  except  the  honour 
of  distributing,  or  the  emolu- 
ment of  receiving,  the  public 
money.     These,  in  the  contem- 
plation of  the  present  ministry, 
are  the  most  essential  ornaments 
of  office.     They  ai  o  the  decus  et 
tutamen  of  a  respectable  admin- 
istration, and  the  last  that  a  pru- 
dent administration  will  relin- 
quish. As  for  the  authority,  the 
credit,  or  the  business  of  their 
offices,  they  are  ready  to  resign 
them  to  you  without  reluctance. 
With  regard  to  their  appearance 
and    behaviour   Avithin    doors, 
these  docile  creatures  find  a  re- 
lief in  your  understanding  from 
the  burthen  of  thinking,  and  in 
your  direction  from  the  labour 
of  acting.     This,  however,  is  no 
more  than  the  natural  prece- 
dence of  superior  abilities  and 
knowledge.    Folly  cannot  long 
take  the  pas  of  wisdom  ;  and  ig- 
norance, sooner  or  later,  must 
submit  to  experience.  Yet,  con- 
sidering what  sort  of  heads  you 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


123 


versant  in  these  affairs,  although 
neither  employed  nor  consulted 
in  them,  since  I  left  America, 
to  know  that  these  alternate 
charges  were  false  and  ground- 
less ;  that  there  were  neither  ar- 
bitrary intentions  on  one  hand, 
nor  seditious  views  on  the  other. 
As  therefore,  by  my  address,  I 
meant  to  do  justice  to  your  prin- 
ciples, which  I  knew  to  be  those 
of  peace  and  government,  estab- 
lished on  political  liberty,  —  so 
I  took  that  occasion,  as  I  will  ev- 
er esteem  it  a  duty  to  do,  to  bear 
my  testimony  to  the  affection 
which  the  colonists  have  ever 
borne  to  the  mother  country ;  to 
their  zeal  for  its  welfare ;  to  their 
sense  of  government,  and  their 
loyalty  to  their  sovereign ;  as  al- 
so how  much  they  have  merited 
from  this  country,  and  how 
much  they  deserve  to  be  consid- 
ered by  it ;  in  order  to  put  these 
matters  of  dispute  on  a  footing  of 
fair  discussion,  and  equitable 
settlement. 

( The  extract  given  on  page  103 
et  seq.) 

"  Many  matters  therefore,  the 


have  to  deal  with,  the  task  of 
giving  them  instruction  must  be 
a  heavy  one.  The  triumph  is 
hardly  equal  to  the  labour  which 
attends  it.  To  convey  instruc- 
tion into  heads  which  perceive 
nothing,  is  as  hard  a  task  as  to 
instil  sentiments  into  hearts  that 
feel  nothing.  In  both  these  ar- 
ticles, I  think,  his  Majesty's 
present  servants  are  invulnera- 
ble. They  are  of  so  strange  a 
composition,  that  knowledge 
will  neither  penetrate  the  sub- 
stance, nor  shame  stick  upon 
the  surface.  They  have  one 
short  remedy  for  every  inconve- 
nience, a  remedy  which  tyrants 
make  use  of,  and  fools  profess, 
without  scruple  or  management. 
Force  is  their  grand  arcanum 
imperii.  If  this  be  the  ejcecutive 
power  of  the  crown,  they  pos- 
sess and  exeit  it  to  a  mira- 
cle.^ Red  and  brown  makes  all 
the  difference.  To  Southwark 
the  guards  are  detached  in  their 
uniforms;  —  to  Brentford  they 
march  like  gentlemen,  with  or- 
ders to  change  their  colours  in 
the  blood  of  this  country.  This, 
Sir,  is  the  last  irresistible  argu- 
ment of  kings ;  —  the  only  one 


1 "  But  why  do  I  endeavour,  under  the  discouragement  which  gen 
tlemen  give  to  any  reasoning — any  consideration  of  this  matter; 
why  should  I  endeavour  to  obtrude  my  poor  reasoning  so  ill  received? 
Why  should  I  talk  of  adopting  modes  of  policy,  when  the  shorter  way 
of  the  question  and  decision,  the  short  way  oj"  force,  seems  already 
adopted? "  —  Speech  of  Gov.  P.,  Feb.  8, 1769;  Hansarda  Pari  Hist., 
xvi.  500. 


■:  'i 


194 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


publication  of  which  I  had  sus- 
pended while  I  thought  that  this 
question  might  be  waved,  or 
some  way  compromised,  I  now 
publish  in  this  edition.  I  con- 
tinue my  address,  Sir,  to  you, 
now  you  are  no  longer  minister, 
nor  perhaps  ever  likely  to  be. 
I  address  myself  to  the  private 
country-gentleman,  who  will  al- 
ways have  a  great  share  in  the 
business  of  his  country;  —  to 
Mr.  George  Grenville,  as  to  one 
who  hath,  and  always  will  have 
great  interest,  lead,  and  author- 
ity in  parliament ;  *  from'an  opin- 
ion really  and  deeply  grounded 
in  the  minds  of  the  most  serious 
of  his  countrymen,  that,  while 
for  the  sake  of  the  peace  and  lib- 
erties of  the  whole,  he  means  to 
support  the  constitutional  pow- 
ers of  government  in  the  crown ; 
so  is  he  equally,  by  principle, 
determined,  as  by  abilities  able, 
to  guard  the  civil  rights  of  the 
subjects,  with  a  peculiar  regard 
to,  and  management  of,  their 
interests  in  their  property. 

"  This  American  question,  in 
which  liberty  and  the  rights  of 
property  are  so  deeply  engaged, 
must  now  come  forward.  From 
the  part  which  you  have  already 
taken,  you  must  still  bear  a  con- 
Bidera!)lc  part  in  the  debates  and 
consultations  which  will  be  held 


which  your  abilities  cannot  an- 
swer,  nor  your  integrity  oppose 
with  effect.  In  vain  shall  you 
demand  an  account  of  the  most 
flagrant  waste  of  public  money. 
The  ministry  are  sure  of  being 
protected  by  the  ruffians  who 
received  it.  The  murder  of  His 
Majesty's  English  subjects  calls 
aloud,  but  calls  in  vain,  for  jus- 
tice. To  complain  is  dangerous, 
to  prosecute  might  be  fatal.  We 
are  arrived  at  that  dreadful  cri- 
sis at  which  open  murders  may 
well  be  succeeded  by  secret  as- 
sassination. May  heaven  avert 
the  omen ! 

"  Your  weight  and  authority 
in  parliament  are  acknowledged 
by  the  submission  of  your  op- 
ponents. Your  credit  with  the 
public  is  equally  extensive  and 
secure,  because  it  is  founded  on 
a  system  of  conduct  wisely 
adopted  and  firmly  maintained. 
You  have  invariably  adhered  to 
one  cause,  one  language ;  and 
when  your  friends  deserted  that 
cause,  they  deserted  you.  They 
who  dispute  the  rectitude  of 
your  opinions,  admit  that  your 
conduct  has  been  uniform,  man- 
ly, and  consistent.  This  letter, 
I  doubt  not,  will  be  attributed 
to  some  party  friend,  by  men 
who  expect  no  applause  but 
fi-om    their   dependents.     But 


1 "  The  honmirable  lead  you  have  taken  in  the  affairs  of  America, 
hath  drawn  upon  you  the  whole  attention  of  the  public."  —  Misc.  Let- 
ter XXX  V.f  Aug.  29, 1768,  vol.  iii.  105. 


.  ;w.a,:.;»  *>, 


,.^<"''' 'i-jiJiW 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


125 


upon  it.    I  therefore  address,  to 
your  most  serious  consideration, 
that  state  of  this  business  which 
the  following  book   contains; 
nor  will  I  despair  of  your  assent 
to  what  so  firmly  establishes  the 
rights  of  property,  on  the  foun- 
dations of  liberty,  hy  an  equal 
extension  and  communication  of 
government,  to  wheresoever  the  peo- 
ple and  dominions,  having  these 
rights,  do  extend.  In  the  matters 
which  I  propose,  I  speak  my 
own  sentiments,  not  yours.  I  ad- 
dress them  to  your  serious  con- 
sideration, as  I  do  to  every  man 
of  business  in  the  nation  ;  with 
an  hope,  that  from  conviction  of 
the  justice,  policy,  and  necessity 
of  the  measure,  they  may  be- 
come the  general  sentiments  of 
the  government,  and  of  the  peo- 
ple, of  Great  Britain.   From  the 
same  sentiments,  and  with  the 
same  view  of  general  peace  and 
liberty,  I  could  wish  to  recom- 
mend the  same  propositions  to 
the  Americans.    Nor  would  I 
despair  of  their  assent  to  things, 
were  there  no  jealousies  of,  no 
prejudices  against  men.    I  am 
convinced  that  these  maxims 
are  true  in  theory;  and  do  sin- 
cerely believe,  that  they  are  the 
only  principles  by  which  the 
peace,  the  civil  liberty,  com- 
mercial prosperity  and  union 
of  the  British  dominions,  can 
be  maintained  and  supported. 


you.  Sir,  have  the  testimony  of 
your  enemies  in  your  favour. 
After  years  of  opposition,  we 
see  them  revert  to  those  very" 
measures,  with  violence,  with 
hazard  and  disgrace,  which,  in 
the  first  instance,  might  have 
been  conducted  with  ease,  with 
dignity  and  moderation. 

"  While  parliament  preserves 
its  constitutional  authority,  you 
will  preserve  yours.  As  long 
as  there  is  a  real  representation 
of  the  people,  you  will  be  heard 
in  that  great  assembly  with  at- 
tention, deference,  and  respect ; 
and  if,  fatally  for  England,  the 
designs  of  the  present  ministry 
should  at  last  succeed,  you  will 
have  the  consolation  to  reflect, 
that  your  voice  was  heard,  un- 
til the  voice  of  truth  and  reason 
was  drowned  in  the  din  of  arms ; 
and  that  your  influence  in  par- 
liament was  irresistible,  until 
every  question  was  decided  by 
the  sword." 


126 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


I  am  no  partizan  —  I  do  not 
palliate  the  errors  of  Great  Bri- 
tain —  I  do  not  flatter  the  pas- 
sions of  America.  My  zeal  and 
many  services  towards  the  one, 
have  appeared  in  the  effect  of 
those  services ;  and  my  affection 
to  the  other,  if  it  be  not  already 
known,  will  be  seen ;  as,  under 
the  accident  of  a  certain  event, 
I  mean  to  end  my  days  there  in 
a  private  character. 


"May  both  the  Briton  and 
the  American  take  this  consid- 
eration to  heart :  and,  whatever 
be  the  fate  of  parties  and  fac- 
tions ;  of  patriots  or  ministers ; 
may  the  true  government  of 
laws  prevail,  and  the  rights  of 
men  be  established  in  political 
liberty ! 

"  With  the  highest  esteem  and 
regard,  I  have  the  honour 
to  be,  etc.,  etc., 

T.  POWNALL." 

On  the  7th  of  March,  1770,  Mr.  Grenville  sub- 
mitted to  the  House  of  Commons,  his  plan  for 
regulating  the  trials  of  controverted  elections ;  his 
object  in  which  was,  as  he  had  previously  stated 
to  Mr.  Knox,  the  under  Secretary  of  State,  "  to 
endeavour  to  give  some  check  to  the  abominable 
prostitution  of  the  House  of  Commons  in  elec- 
tions, by  voting  for  whoever  has  the  support  of 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


127 


the  minister,  which  must  end  in  the  ruin  of  pub- 
lic liberty,  if  it  be  not  checked."    The  House  there- 
upon —  "  Ordered,  nem.  con.  —  that  leave  be  giv- 
en to  bring  in  a  Bill  to  regulate  the  trials  of  con- 
troverted elections,  or  returns  of  members  to  serve 
in  parliament :  and  that  Mr.  Grenville,  the  Mar- 
quis of  Granby,  Mr.  Wedderburn,  Mr.  "Whately, 
Mr.  Dowdeswell,  Mr.   Solicitor- General   (Thur- 
low),  Mr,  Pownalli  Mr.  Thomas  Townshend,  jun., 
Mr.  Burke,  and  Mr.  Mackworth,  do  prepare,  and 
bring  in  the  same.     The  Bill  was  accordingly 
brought  in  on  the  12th."  ^     The  debates  upon  it, 
between  that  date  and  the  2d  of  April,  when  it 
passed  its  third  reading,  occupy  seventeen  col- 
umns of  Hansard's  Parliamentary  History;  of 
which  about  one  fourth  are  taken  up  by  two  of 
Governor  Pownall's  speeches  in  support  of  the 
measure.    These  speeches  show  him  to  have  been 
an  able  leader,  in  answering  objections  to  the 
bill,  and  proving  both  its  constitutionality  and  its 
practical  character.    It  passed  the  House  of  Lords 
without  opposition,  and  received  the  royal  assent 
on  the  12th  of  April.    Its  duration  was  limited  to 
seven  years ;   but  four  years  afterward,  it  was, 
with  a  few  comparatively  unimportant  amend- 
ments, made  perpetual;    and  thenceforward,  in 
honour  of  its  projector,  it  continued  to  be  famil- 
iarly known,  in  parliament,  and  out  of  it,  as  "  The 


^  Hansard,  xvi.  906. 


128 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


Grenville  Act^  ^     In  the  reports  of  the  debates 
on  the  last  occasion,  Governor  Pownall  is  not 
mentioned  as  a  speaker,  but  his  name  is  recorded 
in  the  list  of  the  majority  who  voted  in  its  favour. 
The  Grenville  Act  was  the  last  important  public 
act  of  Mr.  Grenville's  life ;  —  he  died  in  Novem- 
ber of  the  year  in  which  it  received  the  royal  as- 
sent (1770).     Historians  have  characterized  it  as 
"  his  last  legacy  to  the  nation ; "   and  while  the 
experience  of  the  better  part  of  a  century  justifies 
the  expression,  it  likewise  enhances  the  correct- 
ness of  the  opinion  of  Junius,  of  "  the  shrewd,  in- 
flexible judgment,"  ^  the  "superior  abilities  a.d 
knowledge,"  ^  and  "  the  rectitude  of  the  opinions  "  * 
of  Mr.  Grenville ;  an  opinion  equally  entertained 
by  Governor  Pownall,  as  we  have  already  shown ; 
and  as  again  appears  in  one  of  the  two  speeches 
above-mentioned,  in  which  he  spoke  of — "the 
great  parliamentary  knowledge  of  the  right  hon- 
ourable proposer  of  this  bill,  supported  by  the  au- 
thority and  influence  which   his  character,  es- 
teemed in  all  points,  does  give  to  every  thing  he 
proposes."    It  is  somewhat  remarkable,  that  in  the 
Letter  XXXIX,,  dated  May  28,  1770,  in  which 
Junius  considers  "in  one  view,  the  beginning, 
progress,  and  conclusion  of  the  deliberations  "  of 

1 10  G.  III.  c.  16,-11  G.  III.  c.  42,  — and  14  G.  III.  c.  15. 

«  Lett.  XV.,  July  8,  1769,  vol.  i.  507. 

»  Misc.  Lett.  LIII.,  Dec.  15, 1768,  vol.  iii.  193. 

*  lb.  195. 


i'V  •t»i,i.,f. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


129 


the  two  Houses  of  Parliament,  in  their  then  just- 
closed  session,  he  makes  no  allusion  whatever  to 
the  Grenville  acty  or  to  the  part-opposition  and 
part-discouragement  offered  to  the  measure  by 
Lord  North,  and  others  of  the  ministry.  One 
would  think  that  Junius  would  not  have  let  slip 
so  favourable  an  opportunity  of  paying  a  grace- 
ful compliment  to  his  favourite  senator ;  and  we 
can  only  account  for  the  omission,  by  supposing 
that  he  feared,  that  his  praise  of  Mr.  Grenville,  on 
that  subject,  might  possibly  excite  the  attention 
of  the  seekers  for  Junius  towards  the  principal 
debater  in  the  House  of  Commons,  in  support  of 
the  bill,  namely.  Governor  Pownall.  The  only 
allusions  made  by  Junius  to  the  Grenville  act, 
that  we  can,  at  the  moment,  call  to  mind,  are  — 

in  Letter  LIX.,  Oct.  5,  1771,  —  " this  very 

House  of  Commons  have  graciously  consented 
that  ....  contested  elections  shall  for  the  future 
be  determined  with  some  decent  regard  to  the 
merits  of  the  case ; "  ^  —  and  in  Letter  LXL,  Oct. 
18, 1771,  —  "  Of  the  popular  bills  which  you  say 
he  (Lord  Mansfield)  supported  in  the  House  of 
Lords,  the  most  material  is  unquestionably  that 
of  Mr.  Grenville,  for  deciding  contested  elections. 
But  I  should  be  glad  to  know  upon  what  possi- 
ble pretence  any  member  of  the  upper  house 
could  oppose  such  a  bill,  after  it  had  passed  the 


1  Vol.  ii.  359. 

9 


130 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


House  of  Commons?"^  Slight  as  these  allu- 
sions are,  there  is  sufficient  in  them  to  prove  iden- 
tity of  opinion,  on  the  subject  to  which  they  have 
reference,  between  Junius  and  Governor  Pownall. 

The  last  quoted  speech  of  the  Governor,  also 
furnishes  material  for  identifying  his  opinion  of 
juries  with  that  of  Junius.  He  said,— "that 
even  in  the  midst  of  the  most  luxurious,  unprin- 
cipled, profligate  age,  even  in  the  very  crisis,  in 
the  delirium  of  the  fever  of  party  rage,  juries  had 
preserved  their  faith  and  honour."  ^ 

So  Junius,  in  his  Preface ;  —  "  If,  from  an  un- 
warrantable distrust  of  the  integrity  of  juries,  they 
would  wish  to  obtain  justice  by  any  mode  of  pro- 
ceeding, more  summary  than  a  trial  by  their  peers, 
I  do  not  scruple  to  aflirm,  that  they  are  in  effect 
greater  enemies  to  themselves,  than  to  the  libeller 
they  prosecute 

"  It  is  not  true  that  tht  temper  of  the  times  has, 
in  general,  an  undue  influence  over  the  conduct  of 
juries.  On  the  contrary,  many  signal  instances  may 
be  produced  of  verdicts  returned  for  the  King,  when 
the  inclinations  of  the  people  led  strongly  to  an 
undistinguishing  opposition  to  government.  .  .  . 

"  The  numerous  instances,  in  our  state  trials, 
of  verdicts  recovered  for  the  King,  sufficiently  re- 
fute the  false  and  scandalous  imputations  thrown 


1  Vol.  ii.  380.    It  is  also  mentioned,  approvingly,  in  letter  to 
Wilkes,  No.  66,  vol.  i.  286,— and  Misc.  Letter  LX2^.,  vol.  iii.  290. 
3  Hansard,  vol.  xvi.  p.  913. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


131 


by  the  abettors  of  Lord  Mansfield  upon  the  integ- 
rity of  juries."  1 

Although  the  prominent  position  held  by  Gov- 
ernor Pownall  in  the  passage  of  the  Grenville 
bill  through  the  House  of  Commons  precludes  all 
doubt  of  his  having  been,  at  that  time,  "  person- 
ally known "  to  Mr.  Grenville,  yet  it  is  evident 
that  the  knowledge  had  not  yet  ripened  into  inti- 
macy ;  as,  in  the  course  of  the  debate,  he  did  not 
once  mention  Mr.  Grenville  as  his  "  Right  hon- 
ourable/newc/,"  —  but  —  in  cold  respectfulness — 
as  "the  Right  bono  arable  proposer  of  the  bill;" 
— thus  showing  a  probability,  that  at  the  earlier 
date  of  the  Letter  of  Junius,  July  29, 1769,  he  in- 
deed, as  is  therein  stated,  "  had  not  the  honour  of 
being  personally  known  to  Mr.  Grenville."  ^ 

The  next  important  debate  in  the  House  of 
Commons,  in  which  Governor  Pownall  took  part, 
is  that  which  originated  in  the  seizure  by  the 
Spaniards,  on  the  10th  of  June,  1770,  of  Falk- 
land's Island ;  and  on  which  a  thorough  accord- 
ance of  opinion  between  him  and  Junius  will  ap- 
pear manifest. 

On  the  22d  of  November,  Mr.  Dowdeswell, 
seconded  by  Governor  Pownall,  moved  for  an 
address  to  his  Majesty  for  all  papers,  etc.,  on  the 
subject.  A  very  meagre  account  of  the  violent 
debate  which  ensued  is  given  in  Hansard's  Par- 

1  Vol.  i.  pp.  352,  353,  and  378. 
«  Lett.  XVIII.  vol.  i.  533. 


132 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


liamentary  History  (the  only  work  of  that  de- 
scription to  which  we  have  access).  Governor 
Puwnall,  it  is  therein  stated,  "  entered  into  the 
whole  argument  at  large,  with  full  knowledge  of 
his  subject.  He  showed  the  little  utility  a  settle- 
ment upon  Falkland's  Island  was  to  us,  but  hav- 
ing been  once  made,  it  could  not  be  given  up." 
The  debate  resulted  in  the  rejection  of  the  mo- 
tion, by  225  votes  against  101.  On  the  follow- 
ing 25th  of  January,  a  Declaration^  and  an  AC" 
ceptance,  which,  three  days  previously,  had  been 
signed  at  London,  the  former  by  the  Prince  de 
Maserano,  Ambassador  extraordinary  from  His 
Catholic  Majesty,  and  the  latter,  by  the  Earl  of 
Rochford,  on  behalf  of  his  Britannic  Majesty, 
were  communicated  to  the  two  Houses  of  Par- 
liament ;  and  these  were  followed,  on  the  4th  of 
February,  in  answer  to  a  previous  address,  by 
forty-three  letters  and  other  papers  connected 
with  the  subject.  The  whole  were  taken  into 
consideration  on  the  13th  of  February,  when 
Lord  Beauchampj  seconded  by  Lord  Palmerston^ 
moved  an  Address  to  his  Majesty,  in  approval  of 
the  convention  (as  the  declaration  and  acceptance, 
taken  together,  were  called) ;  and  Mr.  DowdeS' 
welly  seconded  by  Governor  Pownall  moved  an 
amendment,  to  the  effect  of  leaving  out  all  but 
the  first  paragraph  of  the  proposed  address, 
whereby  it  would  be  reduced  to  mere  thanks  to 
his  Majesty  for  his  communication.    The  amend- 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


133 


ment  was  lost  on  a  division  of  271  votes  against 
157.  On  the  5th  of  March,  Governor  Pownall, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Darner,  again  brought  the  sub- 
ject before  the  House,  by  a  motion  condemnatory 
of  the  acts  of  the  ministers  in  relation  to  it.  This 
motion  also  was  defeated,  by  the  votes  of  130 
members,  against  43.  The  speeches  of  Governor 
Pownall  on  these  two  occasions,  occupy  —  the 
first  one  nine  —  and  the  last  one  fourteen  col- 
umns of  Hansard's  Parliamentary  History.  They 
are  stated,  in  a  foot-notej  to  have  been  taken 
"  From  a  pamphlet  published  in  1771,  entitled 
'  Two  Speeches  of  an  Honourable  Gentleman  on 
the  late  Negotiation  and  Convention  with  Spain,' " 
and,  no  doubt,  underwent  the  Governor's  correc- 
tions, before  they  were  put  to  press.  These 
speeches  show  a  very  clear  and  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  the  subject,  and  a  masterly  mode  of 
treating  it ;  —  many  passages  will  vie  with  the 
best  in  the  avowed  letters  of  Junius.  On  refer- 
ence to  the  Chatham  Correspondence,  ^  it  will  be 
seen,  that  Governor  Pownall's  motion  of  the  5th 
of  March,  had  been,  on  the  20th  of  the  preceding 
month,  communicated  by  the  Duke  of  Richmond 
to  the  Earl  of  Chatham ;  and  by  Mr.  Dowdes- 
well  to  Colonel  Barrd,  —  the  latter  stating,  that 
Mr.  Dowdeswell  "  wished  to  bring  it  in  —  under 
the  auspices  of  Mr.  Poivnall — in  a  day  or  two, 


1  Vol.  iv.  93,  94  and  100. 


134 


JTJKIUS  DISCOVBRED. 


if  possible."  The  correspondence  indicates  a  pre- 
concerted mode  of  action  between  the  parties 
above  named,  and  Governor  Pownall,  in  regard 
to  the  Spanish  convention,  which  Lord  Chatham 
characterized  as  "  the  late  infamous  transaction."  ^ 
There  are  two  of  the  private  letters  of  Junius 
to  Woodfall,  which  bear  reference  to  the  Falk- 
land's Island  matter;  namely,  No.  28,  Jan.  16, 
and  No.  29,  Jan.  31,  1771.  *  In  the  first  one, 
Junius  says  — "  You  may  assure  the  public  that 
a  squadron  of  four  ships  of  the  line  is  ordered 
to  be  j^ot  ready  with  all  possible  expedition  fcwr 
the  East  Indies.  It  is  to  be  commanded  by  Com- 
modore Spry.  Without  regarding  the  language 
of  ignorant  or  interested  people,  depend  upon  the 
assurance  I  give  you,  that  every  man  in  admin- 
istration looks  upon  war  as  inevitable."  On  the 
13th  of  February,  in  the  first  of  the  above-men- 
tioned two  speeches.  Governor  Pownall  detailed 
minutely  the  negotiation,  which  had  resulted  in 
the  signing  of  the  convention,  an  hour  only  before 
the  re-assembling'  of  parliament  after  the  Christ- 
mds  recess.  After  introducing  the  intervention  of 
the  King  of .  France,  Governor  P.  said, — "His 
Christian  Majesty  .being  thus  vested  with  full 
powers  from  Spain,  and  matters  being  thus  pre- 
pared in  England,  he  forms  the  terms  of  the  con- 
clusion, and  sends  them  hither  to  his  minister,  to 


1  Vol.  iv.  94. 


«  Vol.  i.  216,  217. 


I 


JUNIUS  DISOOVBRBD. 


135 


be  communicated  to  the  Spanish  minister ;  but 
sends,  at  the  same  time,  to  M.  de  Guisne,  a  letter, 
ordering  him  to  adhere  closely  and  strictly  to 
the  family  compact ;  ^  and  if  the  Spanish  minister 
should  be  recalled,  to  come  away  himself  without 

delay These   despatches   arrived  on  the 

14th  of  January.     Prince   Maserano,   notwith- 
standing every  deference  to,  and  the  most  pro- 
found respect  and  reverence  for  his  Christian 
Majesty,  yet  finds  himself  in  a  predicament  of 
resisting  those  directions  of  the  King  of  Spain  " — 
(three  grounds  of  difficulty  are  then  stated).-— 
"  These  difficulties  lasted  from  this  time  to  the 
18th.     On  that  day  our  ministry  determined  to 
give  him  satisfaction  by  remanding  Mr.  Harris 
back  to  Madrid.     For  which  purpose,  on  that 
day,  four  or  five  messengers  were  sent  different 
ways  in  order  to  meet  him."  —  Better  proof  could 
scarcely  be  afforded  of  the  strong  ground  upon 
which  was  based  the  information  given  by  Junius 
to  Woodfall,  only  two  days  before  the  day  on  which 
the  difficulties  were  removed;  while  the  minute,  as 
well  as  extensive  information    on  the   subject, 
shown  by  Governor  Pownall  —  a  strong  oppo- 
nent of  the  ministry,  and,  consequently,  not  sup- 
posed to  have  access  to  the  inner  secrets  of  the 
Cabinet,  is  worthy  of  remark,  and  of  being  kept 
in  remembrance,  when  weighing  the  evidence  in 


Namely,  between  the  Bonrbons  of  France  and  those  of  Spain. 


136 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERBD. 


favour  of   the    identity   of   the  one  with  the 
other. 

Two  of  the  avowed  letters  of  Junius,  No.'s 
XLII.  and  XLIIL,  ^  and  one  of  the  Miscellaneous 
Letters^  No.  LXXXVIII.,^  respectively  dated 
Jan.  30,  and  Feb.  6  and  13,  1771,  relate  to  the 
Falkland's  Island  matter;  and  these  together, 
when  compared  with  Governor  Pownall's  treat- 
ment of  the  same  subject  before  the  House  of 
Commons,  exhibit  a  perfect  identity  of  knowl- 
edge, opinion,  style,  and  tone.  The  difference,  in- 
deed, between  them,  is  only  that  which  derives 
from  tne  difference  of  the  parties  to  whom  they 
were  respectively  addressed.  Junius's  letters 
were  intended  for  immediate  effect  upon  the  people 
at  large, — he  therefore  appeals  to  their  feelings  and 
their  passions ; — Pownall's  speeches  were  directed 
to  the  judgments  of  the  —  proportionately  —  bet- 
ter-educated— and,  perhaps,  less  excitable — gen- 
tlemen of  the  House  of  Commons ; — Junius  was, 
necessarily,  restricted  to  the  space  that  could  be 
afforded  him  in  the  columns  of  the  newspaper  in 
which  he  wrote,  and  he,  therefore,  in  the  state- 
ment of  facts,  limits  himself  to  the  more  promi- 
nent points  of  the  case,  but  still,  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  convince  one  that  he  is  not  ignorant  of 
the  minor  details ;  —  Pownall  describes  the  case, 
in  extensoy  in  the  most  regular  order,  and  with 


1  Vol.  ii.  182  and  195. 


a  Vol.  iii.  324. 


■utaMMir 


hMm 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


137 


the  greatest  precision  and  minuteness ; — Junius's 
style  is  —  what  he  himself  calls  it  —  the  omO' 
menied  stile}  but  impulsive  and  indignant ;  while 
that  of  Pownall  is  thoroughly  business-like^  yet 
not  devoid  of  ornament,  nor  wanting  in  indig- 
nancy  and  warmth  of  expression,  whenever  the 
occasion  calls  for  it.  As  to  the  matter <i  —  the 
three  letters  may  be  looked  upon  as  an  outlined 
sketch,  which  reappears  in  the  speeches,  with  the 
last  touches  c^  the  burine  that  has  converted  it 
into  a  finish^.        p-aving. 

With  only  ''.\.\.  more  remarks,  we  shall  pass 
onward  in  our  march.  The  first  is  —  that,  in  the 
second  of  the  three  letters,  Philo-Junius,  in  an- 
swering an  opponent,  who  fancied  he  had  "  sur- 
prised an  outpost,  and  cut  off  a  detached  argu- 
ment, a  mere  straggling  proposition  "  in  the  first 
one,  says  —  "  Junius  does  not  speak  of  the  Span- 
ish nation  as  the  natural  enemies  of  England. 
He  applies  that  description,  with  the  strictest 
truth  and  justice  to  the  Spanish  Churt."  In  the 
two  speeches.  Governor  Pownall  makes  the  same 
distinction, — "the  Spanish  Court"  ot^^^ the  Court 
of  Spain ; "  and  never  "  the  Spanish  nation^"  — 
nor,  with  a  solitary  exception,  "  the  Spanish  gov- 
ernment." The  other  remark  is,  that  we  have 
seen  it  somewhere  observed  as  singular,  that  after 
the  letter  of  the  13th  of  February,  1771,  Junius 


1  Letter  XXXI.  vol.  ii.  45. 


138 


JUNIUS  DISOOVEKBD. 


never  mentioned  the  Falkland's  Island  matter. 
The  explanation  will  be  found  in  the  last  of  the 
two  speeches ;  in  which,  in  reference  to  the  vote 
on  the  preceding  debate,  by  which  the  House  of 
Commons  had  approved  of  the  convention  with 
Spain,  Governor  Pownall  said,  — "  The  matter 
being  now  decided,  and  peace  between  the  crowns 
t  of  Spain  and  Great  Britain  being  now  formally 
restored ;  and  standing  as  it  does,  and  must  do 
for  the  future,  on  the  basis  of  this  convention,  the 
execution  of  which  is  laid  before  us  ;  it  becomes 
the  duty  of  every  member  of  the  community,  and 
of  every  member  of  this  House,  to  unite  their  aid 
and  assistance,  and  advice  also  where  that  shall 
become  proper,  to  give  stability,  security,  and  per- 
manency to  this  foundation.     If  there  be  any 
thing  which   appears    suspicious    or  defective, 
either  in  the  ground  on  which  it  stands,  or  in  the 
materials  of  which  it  is  composed,  it  becomes  a 
consequence  of  that  duty,  to  point  out  that  de- 
fect, so  that  it  may  be  repaired,  before  it  is  too 
late  ; "  —  a  principle  which  was  the  echo  of  the 
one  that,  previously  and  more  concisely,  had  been 
thus  expressed  by  Junius,  in  the  Miscellaneous 
Letter  XXXI.^  —  "I  shall  not  enter  into  the  ques- 
tion of  right,  because  it  has  been  already  deter- 
mined by  the  legislature,  to  which  an  Englishman 
still  owes  some  degree  of  submission."^     The 


1  Vol.  iii.  85. 


JUNIUS  DISGOYEBED. 


139 


above  explanation  will  hold  good,  even  if  the  two 
Miscellaneous  Letters,  XC,  and  XCL,  respectively 
dated  Feb.  22,  and  March  6,  1771,  and  signed 
VtndeXj  be  admitted  to  be  genuine ;  inasmuch  as 
these  are  merely  explanatory  of  the  others. 
'  It  will  be  in  the  recollection  of  the  reader,  that 
the  marriage,  privately  solemnized  on  the  second 
of  October,  1771,  of  the  Duke  of  Cumberland 
(the  King's  brother),  to  Mrs.  Horton,  widow  of 
Christopher  Horton,  Esquire,  of  Catton-haU,  in 
the  county  of  Derby,  and  daughter  of  Lord  Irn- 
ham,  greatly  excited  the  indignation  of  Junius ; 
who,  in  his  Letter  LXVIL,  of  the  following  28th 
of  November,  to  the  Duke  of  Grafton,  spoke  of  it, 
as  an  "  unnatural  union,  by  which  indefeasible 
infamy  is  attached  to  the  House  of  Brunswick ; " 
—  and,  a  little  farther  on,  ♦— "  Yet  I  confess  I 
should  be  sorry  that  the  opprobrious  infamy  of 
this  match  should  reach  beyond  the  family.  — 
We  have  now  a  better  reason  than  ever,  to  pray 
for  the  long  life  of  the  best  of  princes,  and  the 
welfare  of  his  royal  issue.  —  I  will  not  mix  any 
thing  ominous  with  my  prayers ;  —  but  let  parlia- 
ment look  to  it.  —  A  Luttrell  shall  never  succeed 
to  the  crown  of  England."  ^  That  Governor 
Pownall  took  a  like  interest  in — -and  view  of  the 
subject,  is  evident.  The  marriage  gave  rise  to 
the  Royal  Marriage  bill,  "  for  the  better  regulat- 


1  Vol.  ii.  402  et  seq. 


140 


JU17IUS  DISCOVERED. 


ing  the  future  marriages  of  the  Royal  family ; " 
which,  following  up  the  King's  message  of  the 
preceding  day,  was  introduced  into  the  House  of 
Lords,  by  the  Earl  of  Rochford,  on  the  21st  of 
February,  1772.— -"The  intended  bill"  — says 
Junius,  next  day^  to  Woodfall,  "  .  .  .  .  will  be  a 
most  dangerous  innovation  in  the  internal  policy 
of  this  country."  ^  The  assertion  in  the  preamble 
of  the  bill,  "  that  marriages  in  the  royal  family 
are  of  the  highest  importance  to  the  state,  and 
that,  therefore,  the  kings  of  this  realm  had  ever 
been  intrusted  with  the  care  and  approbation 
thereof,"  was  objected  to,  as  conveying  too  great 
a  latitude  of  meaning :  —  but  the  objection  being 
outvoted,  the  bill  was  hurried  through  the  Lords, 
and  sent  down  to  the  Commons  on  the  3rd  of 
March.  On  the  following  13th,  the  House  being 
in  committee  on  the  bill.  Governor  Pownall 
moved,  to  leave  out  the  above-quoted  words,  con- 
taining the  assertion  of  the  royal  prerogative; 
and  —  "proposed  to  go  into  the  subject  immedi- 
ately, as  it  was  the  foundation  of  the  bill,  and  the 
rule  for  the  provisions  of  it.  Lord  North,  though 
it  was  not  the  general  sense  of  the  ministry,  could 
not  in  candour  refuse  to  accede  to  the  proposi- 
tion. The  arguments  to  disprove  the  claim  were 
the  same  as  before ;  but  the  extent  of  this  pre- 
rogative was  more  particularly  adverted  to:    it 

1  No.  56,  vol.  i.  250. 


itti 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


141 


was  shown  how  extensively  this  Bill  must  oper- 
ate in  a  few  ages,  when,  in  the  common  course 
of  things,  so  many  of  the  nobility  and  gentry 
might  be  supposed  to  have  acquired  some  share 
of  the  royal  blood ;  that  it  would,  in  reality,  be 
increasing  the  influence  of  the  crown  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  court  of  Wards  did  formerly ;  as 
the  consent  of  the  King,  or  his  minister,  must  be 
demanded  for  every  such  marriage ;  that  the  pre- 
amble, being  a  declaration,  would  also  act  retro- 
spectively, as  it  would  establish  a  doctrine 'of 
power  which  might  be  drawn  against  the  late 
marriage  of  the  Duke  of  Cumberland.  The  min- 
istry, on  the  contrary,  called  it  an  harmless  pre- 
rogative, which  could  have  no  retrospect,  and 
which,  when  in  full  vigour,  had  no  punishment 
annexed  to  the  breach  of  it,  and  now  would  only 
be  revived  by  the  enacting  penalties,  which 
would  have  no  retrospect.  They  then  carried 
the  claim  by  200  votes  against  164."  ^ 

Besides  this  action  in  parliament.  Governor 
Pownall  published,  in  the  same  year  (1772),  a 
book,  entitled  —  "Considerations  on  the  indig- 
nity suffered  by  the  Crown,  and  dishonour 
brought  upon  the  nation,  by  the  marriage  of  H. 
R.  H.  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  with  an  English 
subject,  (4to.) "  2  The  title  alone  (we  have  not  seen 
the  book)  sufficiently  shows,  that  Governor  Pow- 


^  Hansard's  Pari.  Hist.,  xvii.  419. 


a  Watt's  BiU.  Brit. 


142 


JUNIUS  LISC0VT5RED. 


nail  and  Junius  were  as  one  in  opinion  on  the 
subject.  We  are  much  inclined  to  doubt  the 
genuineness  of  the  Miscellaneous  Letter  CTLy 
dated  Nov.  13,  1771,  and  signed  Oumbriensis,^ 
relative  to  the  marriage ;  although  the  last  sen- 
tence in  the  private  letter  to  Woodfall,  No.  43, 
dated  ''About  15  Nov.,  1771,"  is—"  Cumbriensis 
has  taken  greatly."  ^  The  private  letter  is,  man- 
ifestly, in  answer  to  one  from  Woodfall,  in  which, 
we  think  it  likely,  Junius  was  asked — what  effect 
the  letter  of  Cumbriensis  had  had  on  the  public 
mind ^•*— and  he  answers — that  it  "has  taken 
greatly."  This  answer  neither  implies  that  Ju- 
nius was — nor  that  he  was  not  Cumbriensis. 

The  following  proceeding  in  the  House  of 
Commons,  we  adduce,  as  showing  in  Governor 
Pownall  a  watchfulness  of  the  constitutional  priv- 
ileges of  the  House,  not  unworthy  of  Junius ;  and 
indeed,  evoking  the  principle  laid  down  by  Ju- 
nius, in  his  letter  of  Sept.  7,  1771,  to  Wilkes; 
viz.  "  A  bill,  which  only  touches  the  representa- 
tion of  the  people,  must  originate  in  the  House 
of  Commons,  in  the  formation  and  mode  of  pass- 
ing it.  The  exclusive  right  of  the  Commons  mttst 
be  asserted  as  scrupulously  as  in  the  case  of  a 
money  bilV^^ 

On  the  14th  of  April,  1770,  Governor  Pownall 
moved  a  series  of  twelve  resolutions,  and  intro- 


»  Vol.  iu.  415. 


3  Yol.  i.  236. 


«  Vol.  i.  288. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


143 


duced  a  ]i)ill  founded  thereon,  ^^to  regulate  the 
importation  and  exportation  of  corn;"    which 
passed  the  Commons,  and  was  carried  up  to  the 
Lords  on  the  following  13th  of  May.    On  the  3rd 
of  June,  the  Bill  was  returned  from  the  Lords, 
with  amendments;    and  particularly,  with  this 
one, — "  That  no  bounty  should  be  paid  on  ex- 
ported corn."     Governor    Pownall  said,  "  that 
though  the  alterations  were  trifling,  and  chiefly 
grammatical,  yet  he  thought  them,  upon  the 
whole,  real  improvements,  and  therefore  would 
have  made  no  objection  to  them,  had  not  one 
been  a  flagrant  encroachment  upon  the  privileges 
of  the  House;   that  as  the  Lords,  forgetful  of 
their  duty,  had  interfered  in  raising  money  by  i  i- 
serting  the  words  *that  no  bounty  should  be  paid 
upon  exported  corn,*  he  must  move  the  House  to 
reject  the   Bill."     Mr.  Whitworth  seconded  the 
motion, — the  i^eaA;er  declared  "that  he  would 
do  his  part  in  the  business," — Mr.  Burke  sup- 
ported it — more  suo^ — "The  Lords"  —  said  he 
—  "do  not  know  what  is  going  forward  in  this 
House ;  and,  what  is  worse,  they  do  not  under- 
stand the  principles  of  the  constitution 

Can  liberty  exist  a  moment,  if  we  allow  them  to 
lay  their  sacrilegious  hands  upon  this  holy  of  ho- 
lies, this  palladium  of  the  constitution  ?".... 
"  The  Bill  was  rejected,  nem,  con.,  and  the  Speaker 
tossed  it  over  the  table;  several  of  the  members, 


144 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


on  both  sides  of  the  qvestion^  kicking  U  as  they 
went  out  !^*^ 

In  the  following  session  of  parliament,  we  find 
Governor  Pownall  taking  an  active  interest  and 
part  in  various  measures  of  public  importance; 
particularly,  on  the  laws  relating  to  the  assize  of 
bread  —  the  mutiny  bill  for  regulating  courts 
martial  in  America  —  the  linen  trade  —  the  Bos- 
ton port  bill  —  and  the  bill  for  regulating  the  gov- 
ernment of  Massachusetts  Bay.  In  a  debate  on 
the  latter  subject,  in  April,  1774,  it  is  stated  in 
Hansard,  that ''  he  rose  to  give  the  House  an  ac- 
count of  the  mode  in  which  juries  were  chosen  in 
America ;  the  House  at  first  did  not  much  attend, 
but  his  extensive  knowledge  in  American  affairs 
soon  drew  that  attention  to  what  he  said,  which 
his  abilities  so  justly  deserved."  ^  In  a  subse- 
quent debate,  April  22,  on  the  same  subject,  he 
thus  spoke  of  himself  and  his  opinions :  — "  Sir, 
the  few  words  that  I  shall  trouble  the  House  with 
on  this  occasion,  will  be  directed  simply  to  facts, 
and  to  the  rectifying  some  matters  of  fact  respect- 
ing the  constitution  of  the  province  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay,  which  some  gentlemen,  on  both  sides 
of  the  House,  seem  to  me  to  have  mistaken,  and 
to  have  misstated.  As  to  opinions,  I  shall  never 
more  trouble  the  House  with  mine  on  the  sub- 
ject    While  the  affairs  of  America  remained  on 


'  Hansard's  Pari.  Hist.,  v.  xvii.  512  et  seq. 


>  lb.  1199. 


JUVIUS  DliiOOVBBBD. 


im 


that  ground,  that  opinions  might  operate  on 
measures  of  policy,  I  never  withheld  mine,  poor 
as  they  may  have  been,  —  1  always  avowed  them 
openly  and  publicly.-- In  this  House  i delivered 
my  sentiments  explicitly  and  directly.  It  was 
my  duty  so  to  do—  I  considered  it  as  of  perfect 
obligation,— and  I  hope  I  have  fulfilled  that  duty. 
I  could  not  but  think  it  a  matter  of  imperfect  ob* 
ligation,  even  to  obtrude  my  sentiments,  and  the 
best  infonnatlon  that  I  could  ^ve,  in  other 
places,  out  of  this  House.  I  hope  I  have  not 
there  exceeded  my  duty:  I  have  expressed  the 
same  sentiments  at  all  times,  and  have  given  thf 
same  opinion  in  what  I  have  written  to  America. 
AH  tended  to  one  point;  tiie  pointing  out  the 
grounds  of  reconciliation  and  peace.  The  ca^e 
at  present  ceases  to  be  matter  of  opinion — it  is 
come  to  action.  The  measure  which  you  are 
pursuing  will  be  resisted,  not  by  force,  or  the 
effect  of  arms,  as  was  said  by  an  honourable  gen- 
tleman on  the  late  occasion,  but  by  a  regular 
united  system  of  resistance.  I  told  this  House 
(it  is  now  four  years  past)  that  the  people  of 
America  would  resist  the  tax  which  lay  then  up- 
on them — that  they  would  not  oppose  power  to 
your  power,  but  that  they  would  become  imprac- 
ticable. Have  they  not  been  so  from  that  time 
to  this  very  hour  ?  1 1^  you  now  that  they  will 
resist  the  measures  now  pursued  in  a  more  vig- 
orous way,     Yoft  wiU  find  them  prepared  for 

10 


146 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED* 


such  resistance,  not  by  amis,  but  by  a  system  of 
measures On  the  other  point,  should  mat- 
ters ever  come  to  arms,  you  will  hear  of  other 
officers  than  those  appointed  by  your  governors. 
When  matters  once  come  to  that,  it  will  be,  as  it 
was  in  the  late  civil  wars  in  this  country,  of  little 
consequence  to  dispute  who  were  the  aggressors 
—  that  will  be  merely  matter  of  opinion.  It  is 
of  more  consequence  at  this  moment  so  to  act  — 
to  take  such  measures  —  that  no  such  misfortune 
may  come  into  event."  ^ 

The  crisis  foreseen  by  the  Governor,  when 
making  this  speech,  <^  wherein  all  opinion  as  to 
the  modes  of  policy  must  be  useless,"  and  "  mea- 
sures of  force "  must  be  resorted  to,  was  soon 
afterward  attained ;  and  on  the  20th  of  February, 
in  the  following  year,  we  find  him  not  only  break- 
ing the  silence,  as  to  opinion,  which  he  had  im- 
posed upon  himself,  but  taking  a  decided  part  in 
the  advocacy  of  such  strong  measures  as  the  po- 
sition now  assumed  by  the  colonies  towards  the 
mother-country  rendered  necessary,  in  the  eyes 
of  the  ministry,  for  the  maintenance  of  the  supre- 
macy of  the  latter,  in  the  sense  in  which  it  was 
alike  understood  by  them  —  by  Governor  Pow- 
nall  —  and  by  Junius.  "  When  I  see  "  —  said  the 
Governor  —  "that  the  Americans  are  actually 
resisting  that  government  which  is  derived  from 


^Hansard's  Pari.  Hist.,  vol.  xvii.  1282-3. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERKD. 


147 


the  crown,  and  by  the  authority  of  parliament ; 
when  I  see  them  opposing  rights  which  they 
always  acknowledged,  and  for  asserting  which  I 
could  produce  the  best  authority  (I  mean  their 
own  authority,  as  expressed  by  one  of  their  ablest 
agents) ;  when  I  see  them  arming  and  arraying 
themselves,  and  carrying  this  opposition  into  force 
by  arms ;  seeing  the  question  brought  to  an  issue, 
not  on  a  point  of  right,  but  a  trial  of  power ;  I 
cannot  but  say,  that  it  is  become  necessary  that 
this  country  should  arm  also.  It  is  become  ne- 
cessary that  this  government  should  oppose  force 
to  force,  when  that  force  is  to  be  employed  only 
in  maintaining  the  laws  and  constitution  of  the 
empire.  These,  Sir,  are  my  reasons  for  acquies- 
cing (though  I  have  neither  advised,  nor  been  ad- 
vised with),  in  measures  of  force.  The  Ameri* 
cans  themselves  have  rendered  them  necessary. "  ^ 
This  strong  repetition  of  the  determination,  for- 
merly expressed  by  Governor  Pownall,  to  uphoJc; 
the  supremacy  of  the  mother-country  at  all  haz- 
ards, might  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  he  had 
ceased  to  be  —  what  he  bad  called  himself —-"an 
advocate  for  the  colonies,  and  the  British  subjects 
in  America,"*  —  and  had  taken  rank  with  the 
measureS'Of-force  party ;  particularly  when,  in  the 
continuation  of  his  speech,  he  is  found  support- 
ing the  prime  minister  —  and  that  prime  minister, 


^  Hansard,  vol.  xvii.  323. 


a  lb.  328. 


148 


JTJNrcS   DISC0V1S1IED. 


ii 


I  hill 


Lord  North!  Yet,  in  this,  Governor  Pownall 
was  not  inconsiptent ;  for  the  subject  of  debate 
was  a  series  of  propositions,  whereon  to  found  a 
bill  "  for  conciliating  the  differences  with  Ameri# 
ca,"  submitted  by  Lord  North  —  not,  however, 
as  prime  minister,  but  as  a  private  member  of 
the  House  —  which  were  so  utterly  at  variance 
with  the  government  measures  of  the  preceding 
years  of  his  administration,  relating  to  America, 
as  to  cause  Mr.  Fox  —  after  congratulating  his 
friends  and  the  public  "  upon  the  motion  which 
the  noble  Lord  has  now  produced  "  —  to  exclaim, 
— **  He  who  has  been  hitherto  all  violence  and 
war,  is  now  treading  back  his  steps  to  peace : "  ^ 
—  the  change  of  opinion,  or  inconsistency  of  con- 
duct, was  therefore  in  Lord  North,  and  not  in 
Governor  Pownall. 

With  our  further  extracts  from  this  speech,  we 
shall  advert,  to  an  anonymous  letter  to  the  Earl 
of  Chatham,  first  published  in  1840,  in  the  Chat- 
ham Correspondence^  ^  which  is  not  only  remark- 
able for  its  contents,  but  because  of  its  having 
been  deemed  worthy  of  a  confidential,  and  almost 
immediate  answer  from  the  illustrious  statesman 
to  whom  it  was  addressed  ;  as  appears  from  the 
reply  of  the  anonymous  writer.  This  letter  bears 
date  on  the  14th  of  November,  1775,  and  Gover- 
nor PownalVs  speech  was  delivered  on  the  20th 


^  Hansard,  xviii.  329. 


a  Vol.  iv.  pp.  414-419. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVBRBD. 


140 


of  the  preceding  month  of  February.  To  us  there 
appears  ho  great  an  analogy  of  ideas  and  expres- 
sions in  the  two,  that  we  are  led  to  the  conclu- 
sion, that  they  owe  their  existence  to  one  and  the 
same  author ;  and  if  Governor  Pownall  and  Ju- 
nius were  one,  as  —  we  think  -—  we  have  already 
made  manifest,  then  must  the  letter  be  added  to 
the  budget  of  the  genuine  letters  of  Junius.  If 
Sir  Philip  Francis  were  the  amanuensis  of  Ju- 
nius, this  letter  could  not  be  in  the  same  hand- 
writing as  the  other  letters ;  as,  at  the  time  of  its 
date.  Sir  Philip  was  in  India.  It  is  to  be  regretted, 
that  a/ac  simile  of  a  part  of  it  did  not  accom- 
pany the  numerous  fac  similes  with  which  the 
Chatham  Correspondence  is  enriched ;  as,  possi- 
bly, a  suspicion  of  the  handwriting  being  similar 
to  that  in  which  the  letters  of  Junius  were  writ- 
ten, may  not  have  been  excited,  in  the  minds  of 
the  Editors  of  the  Correspondence^  from  a  foregone 
conclusion,  derived  from  the  impossib'  ity  of  its 
having  been  written  by  Junius,  if  Sir  Philip  Fran- 
cis were  either  Junius  or  his  amanuensis,  —  added 
to  the  general  impression,  that  with  the  letter  to 
Woodfall  of  the  19th  of  January,  1773,  Junius 
had,  for  ever,  ceased  to  write.  If  Governor  Pow- 
nall were  Junius,  and  also  the  author  of  this  letter, 
the  handwriting  may  afford  some  means  towards 
deciding  whether  Junius  employed  an  amanuen- 
sis or  not.     We  give  the  letter  at  length  in  the 


150 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


Appendix,  and  restrict  ourselves  here,  to  placing 
a  few  of  its  paragraphs  in  juxtaposition  with 
some  extracts  from  the  speech. 


1%  Letter. 

"  That  subject,  the  American 
dispute,  is  now  arrived  at  a  cri- 
sis, which  makes  all  men  trem- 
ble, many  despond 

"My  Lord,  when  private 
friends  disagree,  the  same  ob- 
stacles are  apt  to  occur;  the 
same,  too,  in  the  dissensions  of 
foreign  powers.  In  both  these 
cases,  how  is  it  that  difficulties 
of  every  sort  are  constantly 
overcome,  but  by  the  interven- 
tion of  a  common  friend  1  Sup- 
pose, for  an  instant,  that,  in  the 
present  case,  such  a  character 
could  be  found  to  exist :  ardu: 
ous  as  his  task  must,  be  admit- 
ted to  be,  it  seems  to  me  far 
from  being  impracticable.     .    . 

"  .  .  .  .  The  true  senti- 
ments of  the  prevailing  parMcs 
in  both  countries,  if  unknown, 
ought  previously  to  be  discov- 
ered by  the  common  friend  .     . 

"  That  common  friend,  once 
possessed  of  this  knoAvledge, 
could  stand  in  need  of  nothing, 
but  a  head  to  plan,  and  a  heart 
to  undertake 

"  The  last  difficulty  that  oc- 
curs is,  in  what  region  to  dis- 
cover   this    common    friend. 


The  Speech. 

"At  present,  matters  are 
come  to  the  last  extremity,  — 
this  Country  and  America  are 
in  the  situation  of  open  and  de- 
clared war ;  they  are  on  the  very 
point  of  striking  the  blow  which 
must  be  the  beginning  of  shed- 
ding of  blood. 

"  When  two  independent  na- 
tions are  in  that  situation,  they 
generally,  amidst  their  friends 
and  allies,  can  find  some  com- 
mon mediator,  that  may  at  least 
bring  them  to  some  terms  of 
conference,  some  mode  of  ex- 
planation, that  may  avert  the 
war  that  is  ready  to  commence  ; 
but  where  can  that  mediator 
be  found  that  can  stand  for- 
ward between  the  subjects  and 
the  government  of  a  country  1 
Who  can  have  sufficient  au- 
thority to  interpose  in  such  a 
case,  to  prevent  fatal  conse- 
quences ?  If  the  country  gen- 
tlemen, the  landed  staple  inter- 
est of  this  country,  that  have 
never  taken  any  share  in  this 
business,  as  a  party,  will  not  on 
this  occasion  stand  forth,  there 
can  be  no  such  mediator.  They 
alone  are  in  that  predicament 
which  will  enable  them  (and  it 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


151 


Alas !  my  Lord,  Great  Britain 
and  America  know  no  foreign 
power  that  can  assume  the 
name 

"At present,  so  far  as  I  can 
judge,  there  is  in  the  univetse 
one  only  individual  qualified  to 
undertake  this  important  office. 

....  Be  then,  my  Lord, 
the  guardian  angel  of  this  great 
empire ;  decline  not  the  honour- 
able office  of  mediator  between 
Great  Britain  and  America." 


becomes  their  actual  duty)  to 
stand  forth  on  this  occasion.  .  . 
.  .  .  .  Yet,  Sir, ,  I  do 
think  it  is  humane,  it  is  nobly 
spirited  in  him  (Lord  North)  as 
a  pi'ivate  member  of  parliament, 
as  one  of  that  candid  body, 
which  will,  I  hope,  join  him,  to 
stand  forth  ^  as  the  mediator  on 
this  occasion." 


A  parallel  to  the  anonymous  writer's  praise  of 
Lord  Chatham  may  be  found  in  Governor  Pow- 
nall's  speech  in  a  debate  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, in  March,  1778,  "  on  the  King's  message 
respecting  the  treaty  between  France  and  Amer- 
ica," in  which  he  said,  —  "  Now  here,  if  an  indi- 
vidual may  be  permitted  to  express  his  private 
wish,  I  should  wish  that  the  present  ministers 
would  advise  his  Majesty  to  take  that  same  great 
man,  now  Lord  Chatham,  to  his  councils,  and  to 
their  aid ;  and  that  they  would,  as  the  ministry 
of  the  former  reign  did,  lend  him  their  majority. 


1  "  I  call  upon  you,  in  the  name  of  the  English  nation,  to  stand  forth 
In  defence  of  the  laws  of  your  country." — Junius^  to  Lord  Camden, 
Letter  LXIX.,  vol.  ii.  441. 

"  When  a  man  who  stands  forth  for  the  public  has  gone  that 
leng;th." — Junius,  Letter  LIX.,  vol.  ii.  358. 

''  When  such  a  man  stands  forth,  let  the  nation  look  to  it."  —  Juniusi 
Letter  XXXIX.,  vol.  ii.  143,  in  note. 

^''  Stand  forth,  my  Lord,  for  thou  art  the  man."  —  Junius,  Letter 
XV.,  vol.  i.  506. 


162 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


In  the  moment  in  which  it  was  known  that  he 
had  a  lead  in  the  councils,  and  the  direction  of 
the  forces  of  this  country,  in  that  moment  we 
should  have  peace  in  America,  and  should  lower 
the  haughty  crest  of  France."  ^ 

On  the  16th  of  November,  1775,  Governot 
Pownall  strenuously  opposed  Mr.  Burke's  bill 
"  for  composing  the  troubles  in  America,"  because 
it  embraced  "  a  plan  of  concession,  previous  to  all 
treaty ;  that  is,  concessions  made  as  preliminaries 
to  peace."  —  "  From  the  first  sprin,^  of  this  busi- 
ness," he  said,  "  having  been  for  modes  of  policy, 
in  preference  to  measures  of  force,  I  have  always 
thought,  and  invariably  said,  that  your  system 
called  for  revision  and  amendment ;  I  have  been 
against  all  partial  concessions  and  repeals.  I  think 
it  should  be  laid  on  some  basis  which  is  solid, 
and  may  be  permanent;  on  such  whereon  the 
liberties  of  America  being  fixed,  the  sovereignty 
of  the  empire  might  be  established.  Repeals 
upon  every  partial  complaint,  and  concessions 
upon  every  clamour,  is  not  the  way ;  this  would 
produce  nothing  but  endless  successions  of  quar- 
rels, and  patching  up  of  those  quarrels.  IndvcicBy 
helium^  pax  rvrsvm.  It  should  be  taken  up  on 
some  great  and  general  system."  —  Governor 
Pownall,  accordingly,  seconded  by  Lord  George 
Germain,  moved  the  previous  question: — -The 

1  Hansard,  xviii.  942.    This  speech  preceded  the  last  memo- 
rable speech  of  Lord  Chatham,  but  a  few  days. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


153 


House    divided  —  yeas    105  —  noes   210.     Mr. 
Burke's  measure  was  therefore  lost.  * 

In  the  first  letter  of  Junius,  dated  January  21, 
17(89,  we  find  a  reference  to  the  subject  of  the 
King's  debts :  — "  As  to  the  debt  upon  the  civil 
list,  the  people  of  England  expect  that  it  will  not 
be  paid  without  a  strict  enquiry  how  it  was  in- 
curred. If  it  must  be  paid  by  parliament,  let  me 
advise  the  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  to  think 
of  some  better  expedient  than  a  lottery.  .  .  . 
I  think  it  ill  becomes  the  royal  dignity  to  have 
the  debts  of  a  King  provided  for,  like  the  repairs 
of  a  country  bridge,  or  a  decayed  hospital ; "  2  ^„ 
also,  in  letter  XIII.,  June  12, 1769,  "  —  but  is  it 
possible  for  a  minister  to  offer  a  grosser  outrage 
to  a  nation  which  has  so  very  lately  cleared  away 
the  beggary  of  the  civil  list  at  the  expense  of  more 
than  half  a  million ?"3 — and  again,  in  letter 
LIX.,  Oct.  5, 1771,  —  "  The  same  House  of  Com- 
mons  ....  who  paid  our  good  King's 
debts,  without  once  enquiring  how  they  were  in- 
curred." *  The  following  extract  from  a  speech 
of  Governor  Pownall,  delivered  on  the  18th  of 
April,  1777,  in  a  debate  on  the  arrears  of  the  civil 
list,  shows,  that  in  1769  he  also  had  required  "  a 
strict  enquiry  how  it  was  incurred  "  to  be  made. 
"  As  on  a  late  application  to  parliament  for  pay- 


1  Hansard's  Pari.  Hist.,  v.  xviii.,  988-992.    Journals  of  the  H. 
of  C,  V.  35,  p.  447. 

2  Vol.  i.  393.  »  lb.  495.  *  Vol.  ii.  3.59. 


154 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


ment  of  the  King's  debts,  in  1769, 1  voted  against 
the  paying  of  them  without  account ;  and  as  T 
shall  now  give  my  vote  for  the  payment  of  the 
present  debt,  as  well  as  for  the  enlarging  of  the 
King's  income,  I  should  be  glad  to  give  the  rea- 
sons on  which  I  found  my  conduct.  When  the 
message  came  to  the  House  in  1769,  and  a  mo- 
tion was  made  thereupon  to  vote  the  sum  said  to 
be  in  arrear,  without  one  article  of  account,  gen- 
tlemen of  the  highest  authority,  with  me,  called 
for  the  accounts,  and  asserted,  that  as  £800,000 
per  annum,  which  had  been  granted  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  reign,  was,  to  their  certain  knowledge, 
not  only  adequate,  but  amply  so,  it  was  impos- 
sible such  arrears  could  have  been  incurred,  if 
there  had  not  been  some  strange  mismanage- 
ment, or  some  very  reprehensible  misapplications, 
which  must  appear  if  the  accounts  were  laid  be- 
fore us :  the  accounts  however  were  refused,  and 
the  question  for  the  motion  was  put ;  I  therefore 
voted  against  it,  etc."  ^ 

We  have  already  had  occasion  to  advert  to 
Governor  Pownall's  speech  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, on  the  6th  of  February,  1778,  in  the  debate 
on  Mr.  Burke's  motion  for  papers  relative  to  the 
military  employment  of  Indians  in  America ;  and 
we  now  give  a  further  extract  from  it,  for  the 
purpose  of  showing,  that  he  was  possessed,  alike 


1  Hansard's  Pari.  Hist.,  v.  xix.  157. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


155 


of  the  enthusiastic  temperament,  and  of  the  dis- 
interested spirit,  which  gleams  through  the  pages 
of  Junius.  —  "  So  much,  Sir,  for  what  is  past.  If 
the  House  will  indulge  me  to  speak  to  arrange- 
ments which  might  be  taken  for  the  future,  re- 
specting these  Indian  services,  I  think  the  neces- 
sity of  employing  them  may  be  avoided ;  I  know, 
and  therefore  speak  directly,  that  any  idea  of  an 
Indian  neutrality  is  nonsense,  is  delusive,  dan- 
gerous nonsense ;  —  if  both  we  and  the  Ameri- 
cans were  agreed  to  observe  a  strict  neutrality  in 
not  employing  them,  they  would  then  plunder 
and  scalp  both  parties  indiscriminately.  .  .  . 
I  am  persuaded,  that  if  we  and  the  Americans 
would  come  to  some  stipulation,  or  convention, 
that  we  mutually,  and  in  one  spirit  of  good  faith, 
would  not  suffer  the  Indians  to  intermeddle,  but 
to  consider  and  act  against  them  as  enemies, 
wherever  they  did  execute  any  hostilities  against 
any  of  the  British  nation,  equally,  whether  Eng- 
lish or  Americans,  all  this  horrid  business  might 
be  prevented,  or  at  least  in  great  measure  re- 
strained. If  government  would,  in  the  true  spirit 
and  temper  of  humanity,  adopt  this  idea,  and  if 
parliament  would  by  any  means  find  their  way 
to  give  sanction  to  it ;  —  if  government,  in  this 
temper,  and  under  this  sanction,  would  propose 
to  the  Congress  the  terms  of  such  a  convention, 
I  am  certain  that  the  Congress  would  embrace  it 
with  sincerity,  and  execute  it  with  good  faith. 


156 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


This  is  a  measure  that  would  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  object  of  the  war;  and  yet,  this  spirit, 
thus  aiming  to  regulate  the  means  of  restraining 
its  rigours  and  cruelty,  might  become  the  first  seed 
of  peace.  This  would  open  grounds  that  might 
lead  to  mutual  good  dispositions  and  good  of- 
fices ;  and  who  shall  say  what  may  not  arise  out 
of  this  ?  I  think  I  see  clearly,  that  such  a  begin- 
ning would  end  in  peace ;  —  government  will  not 
commit  any  of  its  rights  or  interests  in  making 
the  proposal;  —  the  very  making  it  would  lay 
the  grounds  of  agreement."  [Here  a  mark  of 
almost  general  approbation  showed  itself^  6^  — 
"  Hear  him  !  "  — from  all  sides  of  the  Hkmse.\  "  I 
hail  the  happy  omen ;  I  think  I  see  the  spirit  of 
peace  arising  in  the  House,  and  may  it  animate 
all  our  breasts !  I  am  so  confident  that  this  mea- 
sure would  be  adopted  and  succeed ;  and  that  it 
would  finally  lead  to  the  opening  a  treaty  for 
peace  itself;  that  if  government  will  take  it  up  as 
a  measure,  and  this  House  give  its  sanction  to  it, 
I  will,  without  commission,  without  pay,  or  the 
expectation  of  any  reward  whatsoever,  go  myself 
to  the  Congress,  and  make  the  proposal:  and 
though  I  take  with  me  no  commission,  by  which 
government  may  be  committed ;  yet  if  the  propo- 
sal is  accepted  and  agreed  to,  I  will  find  a  way 
to  give  assurance  to  the  Congress,  that  they  may 
act  on  my  proposal ;  —  I  will  put  myself  into 
their  hands  as  an  hostage  for  the  truth  of  what  I 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


Ifl? 


propose,  and  for  the  good  faith  of  government 
On  this  ground,  I  am  ready  to  set  out  thie  mo- 
ment. I  feel  not  a  little  happy,  that  what  I  have 
said  is  weH  received  by  the  House ;  whether  it 
will  be  accepted  and  adopted  by  government,  I 
know  not ;  —  I  feel  that  I  have  done  my  duty."  ^ 

In  the  same  session  of  parliament,  Governor 
Pownall  was  a  prominent  speaker  in  the  debate 
on  the  King's  message  respecting  the  treaty  be- 
tween France  and  America.  The  report  of  his 
speech  occupies  nearly  thirteen  columns  of  Han- 
sard's Parliamentary  History,  and  exhibits  the 
like  extensive  knowledge,  down  to  the  minutest 
details,  of  the  subject,  that  appeared  so  remark- 
able in  the  debate  respecting  Falkland's  Island. 
The  opening  of  the  speech  shows  how  highly  be 
appreciated  the  importance  of  the  subject  —  "I 
do  not  rise  "  —  said  he  —  "  to  defend  ministers ; 
the  object  of  this  day  is  much  above  all  such  con- 
siderations. I  do  not  take  into  my  estimation 
the  pretensions  of  any  set  of  men ;  and  as  to  the 
present  ministers,  by  an  examination  of  their  past 
conduct,  which  is  to  come  under  consid«  nation  in 
a  few  days,  we  shall  be  better  able  to  judge  how 
far  they  are  to  be  trusted  for  the  future.  In  the 
magnitude  of  this  day's  business,  I  will  not  mix, 
even  in  my  ideas,  any  secondary  objects."  ^ 

From  this  speech  it  appears,  that  the  negotia- 


^  Hansard,  v.  xix.  703  et  seq.  *  lb.  930. 


158 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


tions  at  Paris,  between  the  American  Commia- 
sioneilj  and  the  French  ministry,  had  not  been 
entered  upon  earlier  than  in  the  preceding  Au- 
gust ;  that,  after  a  time,  "  all  negotiation  with 
France  was  at  a  stand ;  and  mutual  reproaches 
arising,  had  almost  driven  matters  to  an  open 
breach  between  the  Commissioners  and  the 
French  ministry.  The  Commissioners  wrote  to 
the  Congress,  stating  their  situation.  Here,  Sir," 
continued  the  Governor,  "was  a  moment  that 
Providence  seemed  to  offer  to  the  good  for- 
tune of  this  country.  In  this  moment,  commu- 
nications of  this  state  of  things  came  to  a  very 
private,  and  very  inconsiderable  individual ;  they 
were  made  to  me,  with  direct  explanations,  that 
the  Americans  were  willing  to  open  a  treaty  with 
this  country,  for  reconciliation  and  reestablish- 
ment  of  peace ;  and  that  although  the  acknowl- 
edgment of  their  independency  was  a  causa  sine 
qud  fiQn,  yet  on  that  point,  and  on  all  such  points, 
with  which  the  affairs  of  America  and  this  coun- 
try wei'e  entangled,  they  would  do  every  thing  to 
save  the  honour  of  their  parent  country.  .  .  . 
Overtures  of  such  a  nature  coming  thus  to  me, 
an  unconnected  individual,  who  had  no  commu- 
nications with  ministers,  as  such,  nor  any  right 
to  such  communications,  what  was  I  to  do,  or 
not  to  do  ?  I  decided,  in  the  moment,  that  the 
suppression  of  such  an  important  communication 
would  have  been  criminal  to  my  country.     And 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


159 


yet,  Sir,  as  I  would  neither  commit  myself  to  any 
individual,  nor  be  so  unjust  as  to  commit  any 
person  in  employment  by  such  a  communication, 
I  did  not  communicate  with  the  minister;  —  I 
did  communicate  this  matter  where  I  thought  it 
most  proper  so  to  do ;  ^  and  by  means  of  which  I 
knew  I  should  have  an  authentic  answer. 
Thus  far  I  went  in  what  I  communicated ;  and 
said,  I  was  ready  to  go  into  a  full  explanation  of 
the  whole ;  but  would  make  that  only  to  a  cabi- 
net council.  .  I  had  my  answer  —  that  the  ground 
was  inadmissible  in  the  first  instance  !  And  there 
this  matter  dropped ;  and  this  one  opportunity 
(such  as  can  never  happen  twice)  was  lost  for 
ever."  ^ 

The  introduction  into  the  House  of  Commons, 
in  the  preceding  month,  of  Lord  North's  measure 
for  effecting  a  reconciliation  with  America,  put 
an  end  to  the  procrastination  of  the  French  min- 
istry, who,  fearing  that  that  measure  might  at- 
tain its  object,  immediately  signed  the  treaty. 
Governor  Pownall  showed  clearly  how  impossi- 
ble it  had  become  for  Great  Britain  ever  to  regain 
sovereignty  over  America.  His  description  of 
the  progressive  steps  of  the  Americans  to  inde- 
pendency was  excellent :  —  "  Look  "  —  said  he  — 

1  Query — to  the  King? 

2  Hansard,  xix.  935,  From  General  Conway's  subsequent 
speech  (p.  950),  it  is  probable  that  the  communications  to  Gov.  P. 
were  made  by  Dr.  Franklin.  Their  intimacy,  it  will  be  recol- 
lected, dated  as  far  back  as  the  Congress  at  Albany  in  1754. 


160 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


"into  the  four  great  acts  of  their  proceedings; 
slow,  but  in  measured  steps ;  feeling  their  ground 
before  they  set  their  foot  on  it ;  yet  when  once 
set,  there  fixed  for  ever.  Their  first  great  act  was 
their  Declaration  of  Rights^  in  1774.  The  rights 
there  '•  declared,  claimed,  and  insisted  upon/  are 
incompatible  with  provincial,  and  inapplicable  to 
any  other  than  a  sovereign  independent  govern- 
ment, having  all  the  powers  necessary  thereto 
within  itself.  Their  next  great  act  of  state  was 
the  deduction  of  their  reasons  for  taking  up  arms 
in  defence  of  tfiose  rights^  published  in  a  mani- 
festo to  all  the  world.  Can  those  reasons  and 
allegiance  stand  on  any  ground  of  argument? 
Can  they  and  supremacy  stand  any  where  on  the 
same  ground? — Their  next  act  was  the  DeclaV' 
ation  of  their  Independency ;  not  suddenly  taken 
up  as  an  ebullition  of  enthusiasm,  or  in  the  bit* 
terness  of  passion  and  revenge;  but  rather  as 
coming  on  of  course,  by  a  train  of  events,  linked 
-together  by  a  system  of  politics.  This  Declara- 
tion was  not  made  till  two  years  after  the  first 
act,  and  not  until  July,  1776  ;  and  not  even  then 
until  they  were  prepared  for  their  next  great  act, 
their  Act  of  (hnfederation.  After  having  re- 
nounced their  allegiance  to  the  crown  of  Great 
Britain,  and  all  political  connection  with  the  na- 
tion ;  each  province  (thus  become  an  independ- 
ent community)  formed  and  established  (as  an 
original  act  and  compact  with  the  people)  their 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


161 


respective  governments ;  and  these,  thus  formed 
by  a  mutual  and  indissoluble  Act  of  Confedera- 
tion, have  established  a  great  republican  empire ; 
which,  by  principles  of  nature,  and  not  of  politics, 
necessarily  sprang  up  from  the  ground  whereon 
their  affairs  stood."  ^ 

The  succeeding,  and  several  other  passages  in 
this  speech  are  well  worthy  of  perusal,  and  of  be- 
ing ranked  among  the  productions  of  Junius ;  but, 
to  curtail  would  be  to  injure  them,  and  they  aro 
too  long  for  our  pages.  The  Governor  closed  by 
saying,  —  "  In  this  confidence,  therefore,  passing 
by  all  idea  of  who  are,  or  who  should  be,  our 
ministers,  which  I  am  totally  against  mixing  in 
this  day's  business,  I  am  for  the  address  proposed, 
in  every  sense  and  feeling  of  the  resentment  it 
expresses."  * 

Before  leaving  this  speech,  however,  we  should 
have  stated,  as  leading  to  Governor  Pownall'a 
last  reported  movement  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, that  he  strongly  urged,  that  parliament 
should  extend  the  powers  of  the  Commissioners, 
to  the  enabling  them  to  treat,  and  finally  to  agree 
with  the  Americans,  as  independent ;  on  condi- 
tion, that  they  should,  as  such,  form  a  federal 
treaty,  offensive,  defensive,  and  commercial,  with 
us. 

On  the  6th  of  May,  in  the  following  year  (1778), 


^  Hansard,  r.  xix.  937  et  seq. 
11 


2  lb.  943. 


162 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


he  again  advocated  the  policy  of  such  a  measure  ;^ 
and  finally,  on  the  24th  of  May,  1780,  he  "  moved 
for  leave  to  bring  in  a  bill  to  empower  His  Ma- 
jesty to  make  peace,  truce,  or  convention  with 
America."  The  result  of  a  division  of  the  House 
was  unfavourable,  as  there  appeared  —  for  the 
motion  52  —  and  against  it,  113  votes.  ^  Parlia- 
ment was  prorogued  July  8,  and  dissolved  Sep- 
tember 1,  1780 ;  and,  as  Governor  Pownall  did 
not  seek  admission  into  the  succeeding  parlia- 
ment, we  are  led  to  imagine,  that  the  failure  of 
his  last  attempt  towards  effecting  an  honourable 
peace,  between  his  country  and  her  former  colo- 
nies, had  removed  every  doubt,  if  any  he  had, 
that  he  was  truly  in  the  position  in  which,  in  the 
assumed  character  of  a  retired  philosopher,  writ- 
ing from  the  Ponta  del  Gada,  in  St.  Michael's, 
in  March,  1779,  he  had  described  himself  as  be- 
ing :  —  "  When  I  look  lack,"  he  wrote, "  and  com- 
pare my  opinions  with  events  which  seem  to  have 
confirmed  them,  and  yet  see  how  little  effect  those 
opinions  have  had,  even  when  called  for,  and 
when  duly  explained  by  facts,  in  their  proper 
place,  I  am  at  length  convinced,  that  I  have  not 
the  talent  of  so  arranging,  and  of  so  explaining 
things,  which  I  am  sure  are  facts  and  truths,  as 
to  demonstrate  them  to  others.  That  mind, 
whose  faculties  are  most  readily  exerted  in  the 


1  Hansard,  v.  xix.  1137. 


2  lb.  V.  xxi.  627. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


16^ 


search  of  truth,  is  seldom  habile  and  efficient  in 
the  demonstration  of  it.     This,  therefore,  will  be 
the  last  paper  which  I  shall  ever  write  on  this  side 
the  world,  on  this  subject.     So  little  (if  I  am  not 
too  vain  in  a  reference  to  my  own  ideas)  was  this 
subject  comprehended,  so  little  did  it  seem  inter- 
esting, so  little  was  it  relished,  when  I  was  in 
Europe,  that  I  scarce  ever  talked  of  it  in  real  ear- 
nest :    And,  although  this  withdrawn  place  may 
seem  best  suited  for  contemplation;   yet  I  feel 
here  the  want  of  that  correspondence  and  conver- 
sation which  elicits,  and  brings  forward  into  effect, 
the  power  of  reasoning,  better  than  the  closest  and 
most  intense  study  ever  did.     Nee  quenquam  ha' 
beo  quocum  familiariter  de  hvjus  modi  rebus  eoU 
loqui  possim ;  vt  ne  saltern  explicem  et  exacuam. 
And  I  own,  I  have  my  apprehensions  that  I  may 
prove  to  be  as  visionary^  as  the  world,  I  know, 
will  think  me" ^     The  reader  cannot  fail  remark- 
ing in  the  latter  part  of  this  extract,  a  striking 
similarity  of  idea  with  that  conveyed  by  Junius, 
in  his  private  letter.  No.  79,  to  Wilkes,  in  the  fol- 
lowing passage : — "  Besides  the  fallibility  natural 
to  us  all,  no  man  writes  under  so  many  disad- 
vantages as  T  do.     I  cannot  consult  the  learned, 
I  cannot  directly  ask  the  opinion  of  my  acquaint- 
ance, and  in  the  newspapers  I  never  am  assisted. 
Those  who  are  conversant  with  books,  well  know 

^  Preface  to  the  Memorial  to  the  Sovereigns  of  Europe,  p.  v.  et  seq. 
(This  Preface  is  dated  Paris,  Jan.  25,  1780.) 


164 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


V  !  Ill 


If 

I 


how  often  they  mislead  us,  when  we  have  not  a 
living  monitor  at  hand  to  assist  us  in  comparing 
practice  with  theory."  * 

An  equally  striking  similarity  may  be  found  in 
their  respective  opinions  of  the  game  laws. 
"There  are  not" — says  Governor  Pownall  — 
"  nor  ever  were,  in  America,  any  of  those  Forest- 
laws,  if  laws  they  can  be  called,  which  were  the 
mere  denunciations  of  tyranny  and  domination; 
regulations  that  ruined  the  poor  subjects  of  the 
monarchs  of  Europe,  in  order  to  insure  the  pres- 
ervation of  their  beasts  of  the  chase.  This  tyranny 
became  intolerable  everywhere ;  in  Britain  it  was 
wrenched  out  of  the  hands  of  the  monarch.  If 
the  suppression  of  this  domination  had  been 
made  under  the  genuine  spirit  of  liberty,  the  mis- 
chief would  have  ended  here;  but  a  hundred 
heads  of  petty  tyrants  sprang  out  of  the  neck  of 
this  hydra  principle.  A  system  of  Game-Laws 
became  established  in  the  hands  of  lesser,  but 
more  mischievous  tyrants ;  and  in  their  hands  be- 
came snares  round  the  necks,  and  as  whips  of 
scorpions  over  the  backs  of  the  lesser  inhabitants 
of  the  land,  the  unqualified  yeomanry  and  ten- 
antry :  but  the  spirit  of  America  revolts  against 
such  baseness;  the  very  air  will  not  permit  it; 
what  is  wild  hy  nature  is  there  Game  to  every 
individual,  who  is  fret    hy  nature.     There  are 

1  Vol.  i.  p.  331.  Nov.  6, 1771. 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


165 


la^vs  to  secure  to  each  landholder  the  quiet  en- 
joyment of  his  land  against  real  trespass  and  dam- 
age; but  there  are  no  Game-Lav)s  in  America: 
that  impudent  tyranny  hath  not  yet,  and,  I  trust, 
never  will,  dare  to  show  its  head  in  that  land  of 
liberty."! 

"  As  to  the  Game-Laws"  says  Junius,  writing 
in  the  third  person,  "  he  (Junius)  never  scrupled 
to  declare  his  opinion,  that  they  are  a  species  of 
the  Forest  Laws,  that  they  are  oppressive  to  the 
subject,  and  that  the  spirit  of  them  is  incompati- 
ble with  legal  liberty: — that  the  penalties,  im- 
posed by  these  laws,  bear  no  proportion  to  the 
nature  of  the  offence ;  that  the  mode  of  trial,  and 
the  degree  and  kind  of  evidence  necessary  to  con- 
vict, not  only  deprive  the  subject  of  all  the  bene- 
fits of  a  trial  by  jury,  but  are  in  themselves  too 
summary,  and  to  the  last  degree  arbitrary  and  op- 
pressive. That,  in  particular,  the  late  acts  to  pre- 
vent dog-stealing,  or  killing  game  between  sun 
and  sun,  are  distinguished  by  their  absurdity,  ex- 
travagance, and  pernicious  tendency.  If  these 
terms  are  weak,  or  ambiguous,  in  what  language 
can  Junius  express  himself ?"2 

It  is  sufficient  to  refer  the  reader  to  the  dedica- 
tion and  preface,  and  the  1st,  and  35th  and  three 
following  letters  of  Junius,  to  show,  both  his  ap- 
preciation of  what  should  be  "  the  conduct  which 


1  Memorial  to  the  Sovereif/ns  of  America,  p.  122. 

2  Letter  LXIV.,  vol.  ii.  396. 


166 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


a  I  il 


becomes  the  permanent  dignity  of  a  King"  of  a 
free  people,  and  his  contempt  for  the  "  wretched 
formalities "  which  are  the  too  constant  attend- 
ants upon  the  kingly  office ;  and  as  a  parallel 
thereto,  and  a  close  to  this  portion  of  our  subject, 
we  quote  the  following  passage  from  Governor 
Pownall's  Memorial  addressed  to  the  Sovereigns 
of  America :  ^  —  "  If  this  genuine  spirit  pervades 
the  character  of  the  people  [of  America],  those 
amongst  them,  whom  the  sense  and  opinion  of 
the  people  destine  to  be  rulers,  will  be  trained  to 
the  character  of  Sovereigns,  and,  when  actually 
clothed  with  the  Majesty  of  the  People,  will  feel 
a  consciousness,  not  of  the  pride  of  their  own  per- 
son, but  of  the  honour  and  dignity  of  the  People^ 
Under  this  conscious  sense  they  will,  as  the  Con- 
suls of  Rome  did,  act  the  character  of  ^  ivereigns 
in  a  higher  tone  of  dignity  than  Kings  and  Princes, 
whose  conscious  feel  of  Majesty  is  centred  in 
their  own  narrow  selves.  They  will  act  with  less 
pride,  but  more  commanding  ascendency ;  with 
less  violence,  but  with  greater  effect ;  with  less 
craft,  but  with  more  wisdom ;  with  truth,  honour, 
and  the  real  spirit  of  Majesty.  If  this  spirit  of 
sovereignty  does  not  reside  in  the  People ;  if, 
through  defect  of  this,  the  State  is  not  formed  to 
act  as  a  sovereign  with  all  the  majesty  of  the 
people ;  this  new  sovereign  may,  like  a  meteor  in 
its  rapid  trajectory,  blaze  in  the  heavens,  and  as- 

1  P.  30  et  seq. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


167 


toniah  the  earth  for  a  time,  but  will  not  be  found 
in  any  uniform  revolving  orbit,  nor  become  estab- 
lished as  a  permanent  system. 

Ostendent  terris  hunc  tantum,  Fata  neq :  ultra 
Esse  sinent." 

In  1765,  Governor  Pownall  was  elected  a  Fel- 
low of  the  Royal  Society.  When  Junius  wrote 
to  Woodfall,  July  21, 1769,  —  "  That  Swinney  is 
a  wretched  but  a  dangerous  fool.  He  had  the  im- 
pudence to  go  to  Lord  G.  Sackville,  whom  he 
had  never  spoken  to,  and  to  ask  him,  whether  or 
no  he  was  the  author  of  Junius,"  ^  —  that  Sivin- 
nei/,  namely,  the  Reverend  Sidney  Swinney,  D.D., 
author  of  The  Battle  of  Minden,  a  poem  in  three 
books,  was  also  an  F.  R.  S. ;  and  it  was,  proba- 
bly, at  the  meetings  of  the  Society,  that  Gover- 
nor Pownall  made  his  acquaintance,  and  formed 
the  appreciation  of  his  qualities  indicated  to 
Woodfall.  In  1772,  Governor  Pownall  was 
elected  a  Fellow  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries ; 
and  in  pursuing  the  objects  of  that  learned  body, 
he  attained  to  great  eminence ;  —  a  large  propor- 
tion indeed  of  his  published  works,  is  on  the  sub- 
ject of  antiquities.  Of  these,  and  his  other  writ- 
ings, a  list  will  be  found  in  the  appendix.  He  is 
also  said  to  have  been  a  contributor  to —  The 
Remembrancer ;  a  collection  of  papers  in  favour 
of  the  American  cause  ;  —  and  —  The  Political 
Register;  both  published  by  Almon, 

1  Vol.  i.  *  174,  No.  5. 


168 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


We  have  already  mentioned  the  marriage,  in 
1765,  of  Governor  Pownall  to  the  widow  of  Sir 
Everard  Fawkener.  That  lady  died  in  February, 
1777 ;  and,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Lady  ChapeU 
in  Ifincoln  cathedral,  her  husband  erected  to  her 
memory  a  monument,  bearing  an  inscription, 
which,  as  it  is  somewhat  p*»culiar,  we  shall  give 
in  the  appendix.  On  the  second  of  August,  1784, 
Governor  Pownall  was  united  in  marriage  to 
i^In« ,  Hannah  Astell,  relict  of  Richard  Astell,  Es- 
quire, of  Everton  House,  Bedfordshire,  where  the 
Governor  thenceforward  established  his  perma- 
nent residence. 

From  the  termination  of  Governor  Pownall's 
parliamentary  labours,  to  the  close  of  his  earthly 
career,  we  find  nothing  worthy  of  notice,  that  can 
in  any  wise  show  his  former  connexion  with  the 
letters  of  Junius;  but,  in*' the  last  sad  scene  of 
all,"  there  seems  to  be  a  presumption  in  favour 
of  our  hypothesis ;  and  we  shall  venture  to  point 
it  out,  although  it  may  be  at  the  risk  ^  of  being 
deemed  a  Miile  fanciful. 


•a! 


1  By  the  by,  —  the  word  risk  is  spelt  by  Junius  risque  (vol.  i. 
214,  223,  and  vol.  ii.  176) ;  and  the  peculiarity  has  been  deemed 
worthy  of  a  foot-note  by  Dr.  Mason  Good.  We  may  then  state, 
that  Gov.  P.'s  spelling  of  the  word  is  also  risque,  {Adm.  of  Cd., 
232.  —  Memorials  to  the  Sovereigns  of  Europe,  34,  —  to  the  King,  20,  — 
to  the  Sovereigns  of  America,  18  and  88).  While  noting  a  matter 
of  this  nature,  we  may  add  here,  that  the  expression  "  so  far  forth," 
which  has  been  claimed  as  peculiar  to  both  Junius  and  Sir  Philip 
Francis,  is  also  peculiar  to  Gov.  Pownall  —  (see  instances,  in 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


169 


We  believe  it  has  never  been  doubted,  that  the 
short  motto  —  slat  nominis  umhra,  —  now  familiar 
as  household  words  to  English  ears  —  prefixed 
to  the  first  authorized  edition  of  the  letters,  was 
dictated  by  Junius  himself.  Indeed  his  letter  to 
Woodfall,  No.  57,  Feb.  29, 1772,  refers  to  it.  He 
says,  in  anticipation  of  the  appearance  of  the 
book  a  few  days  afterward,  and  apparently  in  an- 
swer to  a  question  from  Woodfall  —  "I  am  very 
glad  to  see  that  the  book  will  be  out  before  Saw- 
bridge's  motion.  There  is  no  occasion  for  a  mark 
of  admiration  at  the  end  of  the  motto.  But  it  is 
of  no  moment  whatsoever."  ^  In  the  Memorial  to 
the  Sovereigns  of  Europe^  Governor  Pownall  says, 
—  England  "  might  still  have  a  more  solid  and 
less  invidious  power  than  that 

Magni  nominis  umbra 

with  which  she  braves  the  whole  world ;"2  — 

Hansard,  v.  xvi.  495  and  868,  —  and  v.  xvii,  1285,  —  and  in  Adm. 
of  Col.,  p.  300,  etc).  —  And,  for  fear  we  may  not  find  place  for  it 
elsewhere,  we  add  here  another  small  sign  of  identity :  —  In  Philo- 
Junius's  letter  published  in  a  note  on  p.  558,  of  vol.  i.,  of  G. 
WoodfiiU's  edition,  a  quotation  is  made  from  a  work  by  Lord 
Somers,  —  the  name  is  so  spelt  twice.  Tiio  same  letter  is  again 
published  in  the  text,  as  letter  XL VI.,  in  vol.  ii.  p.  225  et  seq. 
and  the  name  is  there  again  twice  spelt  Somers.  But  on  referring 
to  Junius's  own  edition  of  March,  1772,  the  name  in  the  four  in- 
stances is  found  to  be  spelt  Sommers.  Now,  on  referring  to  Gov. 
Pownall's  Administration  of  the  Colonies,  p.  20,  it  will  be  seen  that 
he  also  spelt  the  name  Sommers ;  and  further,  that  his  opinion  of 
Lord  S.,  corresponded  with  that  of  Junius. 
1  Vol.  i.  251.  2  p.  93. 


170 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


■iiiiiiliii' 


showing  a  familiarity  with  the  particular  expres- 
sion. But  an  expression  of  that  description  may 
be  shown  —  or  rather,  a  similar  idea  may  be  ex- 
pressed —  otherwise  than  in  words.  On  the  25th 
of  February,  1805,  Governor  Pownall  died  at 
Bath,  leaving  directions  to  be  buried  in  Walcot 
church,  in  that  city ;  "  and  that  he  might  be  laid 
in  an  oaken  coffin,  without  ornament  or  inscrip' 
Hon;  that  eight  men  should  carry  him  to  the 
grave,  without  any  pall ;  and  that  a  new  suit  of 
clothes  should  be  given  to  each  of  them,  of  any 
colour  they  might  like.  He  was  to  be  attended 
only  by  his  house-keeper  and  man-servant."  *  — - 
"What  could  he  mean  by  this  direction  for  an  in- 
scriptionless  coffin,  but  a  repetition  of  the  motto 
-—stat  nominis  umbra? 

In  connexion  with  the  death  of  Governor  Pow- 
nall, we  would  advert  to  one  of  the  subjects  of  the 
satire  of  Junius,  —  the  Earl  of  Shelburne,  after- 
wards Marquess  of  Lansdowne.  Mr.  Britton,  in 
his  Junius  Elucidated,^  and,  after  him,  Mr.  Wade,^ 
place  the  death  of  the  Marquess  in  1804,  whereas 
it  happened  on  the  7th  of  May,  1805.  "  Only  a 
week  before  his  death,"  says  Mr.  Britton,  "  the 
Marquess  of  Lansdowne  was  personally  appealed 
to,  on  the  subject  of  Junius,  by  Sir  Richard  Phil- 
lips, who  communicated  to  the  Editor  of  the 

1  Nicoll's  Literary  Anecdotes.  ^  Prel.  Address,  p.  xxx. 

8  P.  xxvi.  of  Essay  prefixed  to  the  second  volume  of  Bohn's 
Wood/all's  Junius,  published  in  1850. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


171 


Monthly  Magazine  a  very  interesting  account  of 
their  conversation.  On  stating  to  his  Lordship, 
*  that  many  persons  had  ascribed  those  letters  to 
him,  and  that  the  world  at  large  conceived  that, 
at  least,  he  was  not  unacquainted  with  the  au- 
thor;' the  Marquess  smiled,  and  said,  *  No,  no,  I 
am  not  equal  to  Junius,  I  could  not  be  the  author ; 
but  the  grounds  of  secrecy  are  now  so  far  removed 
by  death,  and  changes  of  circumstances,  that  it  is 
unnecessary  the  author  of  Junius  should  much 
longer  be  unknown.  The  world  are  curious 
about  him,  and  I  could  make  a  very  interesting 
publication  on  the  subject.  I  knew  Junius,  and 
I  knew  all  about  the  vrriting  and  production  of 
those  letters.  ,  .  .  I'll  tell  you  this  for  your  guide 
generally;  Junius  has  never  yet  been  publicly 
named.  None  of  the  parties  ever  guessed  at  as 
Junius  was  the  true  Junius.  Nobody  has  ever 
suspected  himJ' "  If  Governor  Pownall  were  in- 
deed, as  we  believe  him  to  have  been,  the  true 
Junius,  the  last  two  paragraphs  continued  to  be 
as  applicable  to  him,  up  to  the  time  of  the  writ- 
ing of  these  pages,  as  they  were  at  the  moment 
of  their  utterance  by  the  Marquess  of  Lansdowne. 
Assuming  the  ipsissima  verba  of  the  Marquess  to 
have  been  noted  down,  may  not  the  allusion  con- 
tained in  the  sentence  —  "  the  grounds  of  secrecy 
are  novj  so  far  removed  by  death''''  —  have  been 
to  Governor  Pownall,  whose  death  happened  just 
nine  weeks  before  the  date  of  the  reported  con- 


172 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


'  *~ii. 


versation,  and  was  no  doubt  known  to  the  Mar- 
quess? The  remainder  of  the  same  sentence 
seems  to  imply,  that  hia  Lordship  thought  it  would 
be  proper,  that  the  author  of  the  Letters  of  Ju- 
nius should  remain  unknown  yet  a  short  time 
longer,  —  probably,  this  meant  —  until  the  sur- 
viving few  of  the  leading  characters  who  had  been 
victimized  by  the  pen  of  Junius,  had,  like  him, 
been  "  gathered  to  their  fathers." 

We  shall  now  dispose  of  two  or  three  points, 
which  have  not  yet  found  a  fitting  place  in  our 
somewhat  desultory  observations. 

Junius,  in  hi^  letter  to  Wilkes,  of  Sept.  7, 1771, 
says,  —  "  If  you  mean  that  the  Americans  should 
be  authorized  to  send  their  representatives  to  the 
British  parliament,  i  shall  be  contented  with  re- 
ferring you  to  what  Mr.  Burke  has  said  upon  +^is 
subject,  and  will  not  venture  to  add  any  thin^  of 
my  own,  for  fear  of  discovering  an  offensive  dis- 
regard of  your  opinion."  ^  The  reference,  if  we 
are  not  mistaken,  is  to  a  pamphlet,  by  Mr.  Burke, 
published  in  1769,  and  entitled  "  Observations  on 
a  late  publication  intituled  —  *  The  present  state 
of  the  nation,^  ^^  in  which,  inter  alia^  he  severely 
ridiculed  the  Author's  project  of  American  repre- 
sentation in  the  British  parliament ;  and  then  con- 
tinued,— "Governor  Pownall  has  handled  the 
same  subject.     To  do  him  justice,  he  treats  it 


1  Vol.  i.  293. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


173 


upon  far  more  rational  principles  of  speculation ; 
and  much  more  like  a  man  of  business.  He  thinks 
(erroneously,  I  conceive ;  but  he  does  think),  that 
our  legislative  rights  are  incomplete  without  such 
a  representation.  It  is  no  wonder,  therefore,  that 
he  endeavours  by  every  means  to  obtain  it.  )t 
like  our  author,  who  is  always  on  velvet,  i.  is 
aware  of  some  difficulties,  and  he  proposes  some 
solutions.  But  nature  is  too  hard  for  both  these 
authors ;  and  America  is,  and  ever  will  be,  with- 
out actual  representation  in  the  House  of  Gom- 
mons ;  nor  will  any  minister  be  wild  enough  even 
to  propose  such  a  representation  in  parliament." 
The  work  in  which  Governor  Pownall  had  advo- 
cated the  measure,  was  the  one  we  have  already 
often  cited  under  the  title  of"  The  Administration 
of  the  ColonieSy^  the  fourth  edition  of  which  was 
published  in  the  year  preceding  that  in  which 
Burke  wrote  his  "  Observations,"  and  its  author 
anticipated  the  reception  his  proposition,  respect- 
ing the  representation,  would  meet  with :  —  "I 
know  "  —  said  he  —  "  that  this  proposal  will  be 
considered  Utopian,  visionary,  idle,  and  what  not, 
etc."  The  chief  objection  arose  from  the  dis- 
tance, and  consequent  tardiness  of  communica- 
tion and  intercourse  between  the  colonies  and  the 
mother-country,  which,  Burke  held,  would  render 
the  measure  utterly  impracticable ;  —  while  Gov- 
ernor Pownall  insisted,  "  that  the  mutual  situa- 
tion of  Great  Britain  and  America  very  well  allows 


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174 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


every  communication,  which  a  member  of  par- 
liament ought  to  have  with  his  constituents ;  and 
any  influence  beyond  that  is  unparliamentary  and 
unconstitutional."  *  If  the  two  had  lived  to  the 
present  day  of  ocean  steam-navigation,  and  elec- 
tric communication,  how  would  the  former  have 
seen,  that  while  his  objection  was  becoming 
"  small  by  degrees,  and  beautifully  less,"  the  prac- 
ticability of  the  proposal  of  the  latter  was  yearly 
and  proportionately  becoming  more  apparent. 
Now,  Junius's  letter  to  Wilkes  implies  an  ap- 
proval of "  what  Mr.  Burke  has  said  upon  this 
subject ; "  and  some  minds  will  thence  infer  that 
Junius  and  Governor  Pownall  could  not  have 
been  identical,  because  they  differed  in  opinion 
on  the  practicability,  if  not  also  on  the  theory  of 
American  or  colonial  representation  in  the  British 
legislature.  But — may  not  Governor  Pownall 
have  changed  his  opinion  ?  —  may  not  the  reason- 
ing in  Mr.  Burke's  "  Observations  "  have  operated 
that  change  of  opinion?  —  That  there  is  some 
ground  for  the  supposition,  we  think  will  be  ad- 
mitted, when  it  becomes  known,  that  in  the  many 
of  the  reported  speeches  of  Governor  Pownall,  in 
parliament,  although  repeated  opportunities  of- 
fered, he  is  never  found  to  express  an  opinion, 
either  adverse  or  favourable,  to  such  a  measure. 
And,  after  all,  Junius's  approval  of  Burke's  opin- 


1  P.  169. 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


175 


ion  is  but  an  implied  one ;  —  he  may  have  adopted 
it "  for  the  nonce,"  because  it  was  the  then  •— 
generally  considered  —  orthodox  opinion,  —  or  — ' 
as  a  ruse  to  prevent  Wilkes'  suspicions  of  the  au- 
thorship of  the  letters  from  lighting  upon  Gover- 
nor Pownall.^ 

The  Miscellaneous  Letter  XXL,  April  23, 1768, 
signed  Bifrons,  contains  a  passage  which  has 
arrested  the  attention  of  many  investigators  of 
the  mystery  of  Junius,  as  appearing  to  afford  a 
slight  clue  to  its  solution.  It  is  this:  —  After 
quoting  a  pamphleteer  who  had  said — that  the 
Duke  of  Grafton  '^  can  be  supported  by  the  sound- 
est casuists,"  in  not  feeling  bound,  as  a  king's 
minister,  by  a  promise  which  he  had  made  as  a 
private  man,  Junius  says,  —  "I  am  not  deeply 
read  in  authors  of  that  professed  title,  but  I  re- 
member seeing  Bassambaum,  Saurez,  Molina,  and 
a  score  of  other  Jesuitical  books,  burnt  at  Paris 
for  their  sound  casuistry  by  the  hands  of  the  com- 
mon hangman."  *  In  a  note  to  this  passage  in 
Bohn^s  WoodfalPs  Junius^  Mr.  Wade  refers  to  "  a 
decree  of  the  parliament  of  Paris,  dated  August 
6, 1761,"  which  "  had  ordered  that  certain  books 


^  Since  this  was  written  we  have  seen  tiie  5th  edition  of  his 
work ;  and,  it  is  but  fair  to  add,  it  contains  no  symptom  of  a 
change  of  opinion  on  the  point  in  question. 

«  Vol.  iii.  46. 

•  Vol.  ii.  175,  where  the  spelling  of  the  first  two  names  is  prop- 
erly (almost!)  corrected  to — Buaeiibaum  and  Suarez. 


176 


JUNIUS  DIBOOVEBED. 


by  Jesuits  should  be  burnt,  in  the  palace  yard  at 
the  foot  of  the  great  staircase)  by  the  common 

hangman The    works  condemned  were 

chiefly  those  of  Busenbaum  and  his  commenta- 
tor Lacroix.  The  decree  was  executed  August  , 
7, 1761.  There  had  been  previous  burnings  of 
the  books  of  Busenbaum,  namely,  in  1757  and 
1758,  and  there  may  have  been  others  later  than 
that  of  1761."  But  the  particular  burning  on  the 
7th  of  August,  1761,  did  not  suit  Mr.  Wade's 
hero.  Sir  Philip  Francis,  who  unfortunately  hapt 
pened,  at  that  time,  to  be  at  Lisbon,  with  Lord 
Kinnbul ;  and,  moreover,  in  Mr.  Bohn's  ^  biblio- 
graphical account,"  the  burning  at  Paris  in  1761, 
of  Busenbaum's  <<  Medulla  Theologise  Moralis," 
only,  is  mentioned ;  with  the  addition,  that  ^  no 
evidence  of  any  of  the  works  of  Suarez  having 
been  publicly  burnt  since  1614,"  could  be  found, 
and  that  there  is  not  "any  reason  to  believe 
that  the  works  of  Molina  were  at  any  time  pub- 
licly burnt  either  at  Paris  or  elsewhere."  The 
facts,  as  above  quoted,  were  somewhat  stubborn : 
— if  the  letter  of  Bifrons  could  be  supposed  to  be 
a  genuine  letter  of  Junius,  —  then  Junius  would 
be  proved  to  have  alleged  a  false  fact  j^  namely — * 
that  he  had  seen  the  works  of  Suarez  and  Molina 
burnt  at  Paris,  when  no  such  works  had  been 
burnt  there  within  a  century,  and  more,  before 


1  Letter  to  Sir  W.  Draper,  toI.  i.  415. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


177 


d  at 
moif 
9fexe 
jnta- 
igast 

?9  o^ 


tlje  time  of  his  allegation; — and^if  Sir  Philip 
Francis  were  Junius,  then  he — Sir  Philip  — 
would  have  been  guilty — not  only  of  alleging  the 
false  facti  hut — of  falsely  alleging  that  he  had 
been  at  Paris,  at  a  time  when,  in  fact,  he  was  at 
Lisbon.  Mr.  Wade,  however,  gets  rid  of  the  dif- 
ficulty, more  stiOf  by  denying  the  letter  to  be  gen- 
uine,^—  by  doubting  "whether  Bifrons  was  an 
Englishman,  or  even  an  Irishman,"  —  and  by 
boldly  declaring,  that  "he  certainly  could  not 
have  been  a  British  subject  in  1761,  unless  he 
was  a  prisoner  of  war,  for  in  that  year  we  were 
at  hot  war  with  France."  If  Mr.  Wade  had 
searched  a  little  deeper,  he  might  have  found  the 
means  of  reconciling  the  letter  with  his  hero,  and 
with  Junius  too,  without  reversing  Dr.  Good's 
opinion  of  its  being  genuine. 

The  decree  or  arrSt  of  the  parliament  of  Paris, 
of  the  6th  of  August,  1761,  after  detailing  thirty- 
three  different  works,  written  by  Jesuits  (and 
published  under  the  sanction  of  their  order),  as 
having  been  examined  by  Commissioners  of  the 
Court,  condemned  twenty-four*  of  them,  to  be 
"lac^r^s  et  bruits  en  la  cour  du  Palais,^  au  pied 
du  grand  escalier  d'icelui,  par  Vex^cuteur  de  la 
haute  justice,  comme  s^ditieux,  d^structifs  de  tout 


1 " Unqnestionably,"  quoth  he,  "Bifrons  is  sporions." 
^  Bifrons  says — "and  a  score  of  other  Jesuitical  books." 
'  Not  the  king's  palace ;  but  that  in  which  the  parliament,  and 
principal  courts  of  justice  held  their  sittings. 

12 


178 


JUNIUS  DISOOTBRED* 


principe  de  la  morale  chr^tienne,  enseignant  une 
doctrine  meurtridre  et  abominable,  non-seulement 
contre  la  sdret^  de  la  vie  des  citoyens,  mais  mSme 
contre  celle  des  personnes  sacr^es  des  souverains." 
Busembaum'sj   Theologia  Moralise  edited  by 
Lacroix, —  Suarez's  Fidei  Catholicce^  —  and  Mo- 
lina's De  Justitid  etjure,  were  among  the  works 
examined,  but  only  the  first  and  third  were  con- 
demned to  the  flames ;  the  first  being  moreover 
honoured  by  a  special  prohibition  of  its  future 
sale  or  use.     Suarez's  work,  as  stated  in  the  arrit^ 
had  already  been  condemned  to  be  burnt,  in  1614, 
the  year  of  its  publication ;   and,  probably,  the 
parliament  therefore  deemed  it  unnecessary  to 
repeat  the  condemnation.    Besides  the  condem- 
nation of  the  books  of  sound  casuistry,  the  arrSt, 
at  great  length,  forbade  the  further  operations  of 
the  Jesuits,  as  teachers  or  professors,  in  the  French 
dominions,  and  decreed  the  closing  of  their  col- 
leges, schools,  etc.     By  the  King's  letters  patent 
of  the  same  date,  the  execution  of  this  arrSt  was 
suspended  for  one  year ;  and,  on  the  last  day  of 
that  year,  namely,  on  the  6th  of  August,  1762, 
another  Arrit  du  Parlement  de  Paris,  concemant 
les  J4suites,  was  passed,  which  —  after  recapitu- 
lating the  legislative  and  judicial  proceedings  in 
France,  relative  to  the  order  of  Jesuits,  from  the 
arrH  of  the  29th  of  December,  1594,  and  edict, 
based  thereon,  of  Henri  IV.,  of  the  7th  of  January 
following,  which  first  banished  the  Jesuits  from 


JUNIUS  DISOOYERED. 


179 


,  une 

ment 

nSm« 

ains." 

id  by 

d  Mo- 
works 

e  con- 

neover 

future 

e  arr^t^ 

n  1614, 

>ly,  the 

ssary  to 

'ondem- 

e  arrH^ 

Ltions  of 

!  French 
Lcir  col- 
patent 
•rH  was 
day  of 
5t,  1762, 
mcernant 
•ecapitu- 
idings  in 
from  the 
Ld  edict, 
January 
its  from 


the  kingdom,  —  showed,  among  other  things,  with 
wonderful  minuteness,  the  grounds  of  the  con- 
demnation of  the  works  of  the  Jesuits,  and  then 
confirmed  the  arrSt  of  the  6th  of  August,  in  the 
preceding  year,  and  commanded  its  execution. 
At  what  precise  date,  afterwdlrd,  the  exScuteur  de 
la  haute  justice  fulfilled  the  particular  duty  as- 
signed to  him  by  the  arrSt^  we  have  failed  to  dis- 
cover. But  the  delay  of  little  more  than  a  month, 
would  have  rendered  it  possible  for  such  a  person 
as  Governor  Pownall  to  have  visited  Paris ;  as, 
on  the  4th  of  September,  1762,  the  Duke  of  Bed- 
ford was  appointed  Minister  Plenipotentiary  to 
His  Most  Chrisitian  Majesty,  and  immediately 
departed  to  Paris,  where  he  remained,  until  the 
object  of  his  appointment  had  been  attained,  by 
the  signing  of  the  preliminary  treaty  of  peace,  at 
Fontainbleau,  on  the  3rd  of  November,  and  of 
the  final  one,  at  Paris,  on  the  10th  of  February, 
in  the  following  year ;  so  that,  if  the  burning  of 
the  books  took  place  at  any  time  after  the  Duke's 
arrival  in  Paris,  in  the  first  week  of  September, 
1762,  it  is  quite  possible  that  Governor  Pownall, 
in  his  Grace's  suite,  or  otherwise,  may  have  vis- 
ited that  city,  and  been  present  at  the  burning. 
Indeed  there  is  a  strong  probability  that  he  did 
visit  Paris,  towards  the  close  of  the  year ;  as,  very 
soon  after  the  signing  of  the  preliminary  treaty, 
the  combined  army  in  Germany,  under  Prince 
Ferdinand,  began  to  break  up,  and  the  English 


180 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


portion  of  it  returned  to  England  in  December. 
Governor  Pownall's  situation  as  Comptroller- 
general  would  not  require  that  he  should  accom- 
pany the  army,  on  its  march,  and  his  own  return 
to  England,  by  the  way  of  Paris,  would  no  doubt 
better  suit  his  convenience  than  by  any  other 
route.^  That  the  burning  of  the  Jesuits'  books  of 
sound  casuistry,  alluded  to  in  the  letter  signed 
Bifrons,  was  the  burning  ordered  by  the  arrSt  of 
the  6th  of  August,  1762,  at  whatever  date  that 
arrSt  may  have  been  carried  into  execution,  we 
believe  cannot  admit  of  doubt ;  as  it  was  the  only 
burning  of  the  kind  within  a  probable  period  — 
say,  within  half  a  century  immediately  preceding 
the  date  of  the  letter,  that  was  of  sufficient  extent 
to  warrant  the  use  of  the  words  "  and  a  score 
more,"  in  addition  to  the  specified  works  of  Bu- 
sembaum,  Suarez,  and  Molina.  The  only  subse- 
quent similar  burning  of  books  at  Paris,  took  place 
on  the  21st  of  January,  1764,  in  the  court-yard  of 
the  palais ;  but  by  what  authority  does  not  ap- 
pear. The  collection  of  French  arrits,  down  to 
1789,  to  which  we  have  access,  professes  to  be  a 
complete  one ;  yet  the  arrSt  of  the  6th  of  August, 
1762,  is  the  last  one,  of  that  collection,  that  con- 
demns any  books  to  the  flames.  The  burning  of 
the  21st  of  January,  1764,  could  not  have  been 
effected  under  its  authority ;  because  among  the 

^  In  the  General  Preface  to  his  Three  Memorials,  p.  vii.,  he  says, 
—  "  in  the  year  1763, 1  returned  from  Germany." 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


181 


•  )) 


books  burnt,  was  the  Instruction  Pastorale  of  the 
Archbishop  of  Paris,  Christophe  de  Beaumont, 
which  was  not  published  until  the  28th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1763 ;  and  yet,  a  modem  French  historian  of 
the  Jesuits^  insinuates,  that  the  Archbishop's 
book  was  burnt  by  an  arbitrary  order  of  the  par- 
liament,—  and  adds,  that  the  Emile  of  Jean- 
Jacques  Rousseau,  and  the  EncychpSdie,  shared 
the  same  fate,  at  the  hands  of  the  same  execu- 
tioner. From  the  letter  of  BifronSf  and  the  fol- 
lowing passage  in  Miscellaneous  Letter  XXVIIL^ 
July  23, 1768,  viz.  —  "  An  ostensible  engagement, 
with  a  mental  reservation,  is  the  first  principle  of 
the  morale  relachSCy  professed  and  inculcated  by 
the  society  of  Jesus,"  *  —  as  well  as  incidental  ex- 
pressions in  some  of  the  avowed  letters,  it  is  clear, 
that  Junius  entertained  no  favourable  opinion  of 
the  Jesuits.  And  —  no  more  did  Governor  Pow- 
nall,  if  we  may  judge  from  the  following  pithy 
note,  on  page  26,  of  the  Appendix  to  his  Admin- 
istration  of  the  Colonies:  "I  mention  nothing 
here  of  the  influence  of  the  Jesuit  missionaries, 
because  nothing  is  meant  less  than  religion  by 
them.^^ 

The  letter  signed  Bifrons  closes  with  a  quota- 
tion of  the  distinction,  made  by  Molidr^s  Sosia, 
between  the  two  Amphitrions,  —  "  c'est  P  Amphi- 
trion  chez  qui  Pon  dine,"  —  and  Junius  has,  in 

1  Cr^tineau  — Joly,  Hist,  de  la  Compagnie  de  J€su$,  torn.  v.  ch.  4. 
a  Vol.  iii.  70. 


182 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


his  acknowledged  letters,  and  particularly  in  his 
note  to  Letter  XLII.,^  shown  himself  a  proficient 
in  the  French  language.  This  also  appears  from 
a  due  consideration  of  the  quotation  from  Mr. 
De  Lolme's  essay  on  the  English  constitution,  with 
which  Junius  concludes  his  Preface.  That  Pre- 
face was  published  in  March,  1772,  —  the  quota- 
tion is  in  English;  —  but  the  first  edition  of  De 
Lolme's  work,  in  English^  was  not  published  until 
June,  1775.*  The  opinion  of  Junius,  therefore, 
must  have  been  formed  from  a  perusal  of  the 
essay  in  the  language,  in  which  it  was  orig- 
inally written.  The  same  familiar  knowledge  of 
the  French  language  and  literature,  and  occa- 
sional use  of  French  phrases  and  words,  are  man- 
ifest in  the  writings  of  Governor  Pownall. 

"  "Whether  Junius  had  any  other  and  less  wor- 
thy object  in  view  than  that  (which)  he  uniformly 
avowed,  namely,  a  desire  to  subserve  the  best 
political  interests  of  his  country,  it  is  impossible 
to  ascertain  with  precision."  So  says  Dr.  Good, 
in  his  preliminary  essay ;  ^  and  he  refers  to  two 
•  of  the  private  letters,  the  one.  No.  17,  to  Wood- 
fall,  and  the  other.  No.  65,  to  Wilkes,  as  contain- 
ing "  the  only  hints  which  can  be  gathered  that 
he  (Junius)  had  any  prospect  at  any  time  of  en- 
gaging in  public  life."  The  first  is  merely  the 
closing  expression  -i-  "  but  if  things  take  the  turn 

1  Vol.  ii.  191. 

3  Preface  by  the  Editor  of  a  new  edition,  London,  1816,  p.  xix. 

•  Vol.  1.  85. 


JUNIUS  DISOOVSEBD. 


183 


I  expect,  you  shall  know  me  hy  my  works ; ''  «- 
the  second  is  of  more  consequence  for  our  imme- 
diate purpose.  "  It  is  a  very  common  mistake  in 
judgment,"  says  Junius,  "  and  a  very  dangerous 
one  in  conduct,  first  to  look  for  nothing  in  the  ar- 
gument proposed  to  us,  but  the  motive  of  the 
man  who  uses  it,  and  then  to  measure  the  truth 
of  his  argument  by  the  motive  we  have  assigned 
to  him.  "With  regard  to  me.  Sir,  any  refinement 
in  this  way  would  assuredly  mislead  you ;  and 
though  I  do  not  disclaim  the  idea  of  some  per- 
sonal views  to  future  honour  and  advantage,  (you 
would  not  believe  me  if  I  did,)  yet  I  can  truly 
affirm,  that  neither  are  they  little  in  themselves, 
nor  can  they  by  any  possible  conjecture  be  col- 
lected from  my  writings."  ^  On  considering  this 
passage,  in  connexion  with  the  clear  proofs, 
already  adduced,  of  the  author's  disinterestedness 
in  pecuniary  matters,  we  cannot  but  look  upon 
the  words  —  ^^  personal  views  to  future  honour 
and  advantage" — which  views  were  not  ^^ little 
in  themselves  ^^  —  as  implying,  that  the  author 
looked  forward  to  a  time  when  his  public  services 
would  entitle  him  to  something  more  than  mere 
professional  promotion,  if  he  were  a  member  of  a 
profession,  civil  or  military,  namely,  to  an  eleva- 
tion of  his  rank  in  society ;  such  as  would  be  — 
the  raising  of  a  commoner  to  the  peerage,  or  of  a 
peer  of  an  inferior  grade,  to  one  of  a  higher. 


1  Vol.  i.  264. 


184 


JUNIUS  DISOOVERBD.' 


The  proofs  that  Governor  Pownall  was  as  little 
itiAuenced  by  pecuniary  views  as  Junius,  we  think 
are  clear.  Let  us  see  whether  he  had  any  '^  per- 
sonal views  to  future  honour  and  advantage," 
such  as  Junius  did  not  disclaim  entertaining.  In 
1764,  he  proposed,  and  strongly  advocated,  the 
formation,  in  lieu  of  the  then  existing  Board  of 
trade  and  plantations,  of  a  separate  department, 
^*to  be  sovereign  and  supreme  as  to  every  thing 
relating  to  it,"  with  a  Secretary  of  State  at  its 
head,  for  the  superintendence  or  government  of 
the  colonies ;  who  should,  as  the  first  step,  ^^  fix 
the  basis  of  an  established,  permanent,  and  effec- 
tive system  of  government  for  the  mother-country 
and  the  Colonies,"  by  some  leading  measure  that 
should  be  "  consistent  with  the  general  govern- 
ment and  interest  of  the  whole;"  —  and  —  "to 
obtain  this  with  truth  and  certainty,  and  to  en- 
gage the  colonists  to  cooperate  in  this  view  with 
that  confidence  which  a  free  people  must  have,  if 
they  cooperate  at  all,  government  should  send  out 
to  America,  some  very  considerable  person^  under 
commission  and  instructions,  to  hear  and  exam- 
ine on  the  spot,  the  state  of  things  there,  and  by 
such  proper  representations  and  assistance  as  can 
nowhere  be  had  but  upon  the  spot,  and  from  the 
people  themselves,  to  form  such  authentic  matter 
of  information  for  the  King  in  council,  as  may 
become  the  solid  basis  of  real  government,  estab- 
lished by  the  principles  of  real  liberty.     To  such 


JUNIUS  DI800VBRED. 


185 


considerable  person,  and  to  such  commission, 
only,  would  the  colonists  give  their  confidence. 
....  They  would  meet  such  person  in  the  abun- 
dance of  their  loyalty,  with  dispositions  of  real 
business  in  their  temper,  and  with  the  spirit  of 
real  union  in  their  hearts.  What  commission 
could  be  more  honourable  and  glorious,  even  to 
the  highest  character,  than  that  of  acting  for  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  a  whole  people,  so  as  to  be 
the  means  of  establishing  those  rights  and  liber- 
ties, by  an  adequate  system  of  freedom  and  gov- 
ernment, extended  to  the  whole  ?  What  can  be 
more  suited  to  the  most  elevated  character,  than 
to  be  the  great  reconciler  between  the  mother- 
country  and  her  colonies,  misrepresented  to,  and 
misinformed  of  each  other  ?  "  *  Considering  the 
preceding  relation  of  the  Governor  to  the  colo- 
nies, is  it  too  much  to  suppose,  that  he  entertained 
the  honourable  ambition  —  for  honourable  it  cer- 
tainly was  —  of  being  selected  as  the  considerable 
person,  who  should  be  the  great  reconciler  he- 
tween  the  mother-country  and  the  colonies  ?   Sed 


1  Adminttiration  of  the  Colonies,  p.  27  et  seq.  —  Since  the  above 
was  written,  we  ha^.  bund,  that  in  1766,  on  the  proposal  of  Gov. 
Pownall,  the  Duke  of  York  undertook  to  become  the  great  recon- 
ciler, if  the  minister  would  adopt  the  measure,  and  his  Majesty 
approve  of  it : — the  Governor  thereupon,  authorized  by  the  Duke, 
obtained  an  audience,  and  submitted  the  measure  to  the  minister; 
but  it  was  rejected  at  the  first  offer !  The  minister  was  —  the  Duke 
of  Graftc*^ ;  and  here  we  find  the  origin  of  Jnnius's  unappeasable 
wrath  against  His  Grace. 


186 


JUNIUS  DISOOYSBBD. 


dis  aliter  visum  !  On  the  20th  of  January,  1768, 
such  a  Secretary  of  State's  office  as  that  recom* 
mended  was  formed,  and  the  Earl  of  Hillsbo- 
rough was  placed  at  its  head.  Unfortunately, 
however,  the  office  was  not  put  upon  the  practi* 
cal  and  efficient  footing  proposed  by  Governor 
Pownall ;  nor  were  any  other  of  the  leading  points 
of  his  plan  adopted.  The  judgment  of  Junius, 
passed  upon  the  new  Secretary  of  State  for  the 
colonies,  just  twelve  months  after  his  appoint- 
ment, shows  how  soon  commenced,  and  how 
firmly  and  permanently  became  established,  that 
infatuated  system  of  governing  the  colonies, 
which,  in  the  course  of  a  few  years, "  divided  one- 
half  of  the  empire  from  the  other  ;"^  and  by 
which — rejecting  the  lessons  of  experience  —  the 
successors  of  Lord  Hillsborough,  down  to  the 
present  year  of  grace,  1852,*  have  unceasingly 
fomented  in  the  British  colonies  throughout  the 
world,  discontent  —  revolution  —  rebellion;  and 
by  which,  with  a  similar  result,  colony  after  col- 
ony must  cease  to  be  a  colony,  and  the  once 
mighty  empire  of  Britain  will  —  eventually  —  be 
reduced  to  its  original  limits  "within  the  four 
seas."  Writing  in  January,  1769,  Junius  says,  — 
"  As  for  his  (Lord  Hillsborough's)  measures,  let 
it  be  remembered,  that  he  was  called  upon  to 


1  Letter  I.  vol.  i.  395. 

'  When  this  was  written,  Earl  Grey  was  still  the  head  of  the 
colonial  department. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


187 


he  once 


cdnciliate  and  unite ;  and  that,  when  he  entered 
into  office,  the  most  refractory  of  the  colonies 
were  still  disposed  to  proceed  by  the  constitu- 
tional methods  of  petition  and  remonstrance. 
Since  that  period^  they  have  been  driven  into  ex- 
cesses little  short  of  rebellion."  ^  Is  not  this  the 
very  language  that  Governor  Pownall  would  use, 
on  seeing  the  early  evil  effects  of  the  adoption  of 
a  part  only  —  instead  of  the  whole  —  of  his  orig- 
inal suggestion  of  a  distinct  department  and  Sec- 
retary of  State,  for  the  rule  of  the  colonies  ?  And 
may  not  the  observation  of  these  evil  effects,  as 
they  successively  developed  themselves,  and  the 
certainty,  that  no  considerable  person-^ no  great 
reconciler  would  be  sent  to  America  as  a  mes- 
senger of  peace  and  good-will,  have  embittered 
his  spirit  towards  the  ministry  of  the  day,  until  it 
found  vent  in  the  "  thoughts  that  breathe,  and 
words  that  burn  "  in  the  letters  of  Junius  ?  If  the 
suggestion  of  sending  to  America  a  considerable 
person,  wlic  should  become  the  great  reconciler 
between  the  mother-country  and  the  colonies,  had 
been  adopted,  and  Governor  Pownall  had  been 
chosen  for  the  office,  is  it  too  much  to  conjecture, 
that,  in  case  of  success,  of  which  he  was  too  san- 
guine to  entertain  a  doubt,  he  might  look  for  his 
reward  in  —  a  peerage  ?  Let  not  the  reader  ac- 
cuse us  of  being  too  visionary  on  this  point.    He 


^  Letter  I.  vol.  i.  396. 


188 


JUKICS  DISOOVBRED. 


will,  no  doubt,  admit  the  truth  of  the  very  old 
sayings" straws  show  which  way  blows  the 
wind."  Now,  in  Governor  Pownall's  Three  ilfe- 
morials,  we  have  found  two  such  straws,  indicat- 
ing the  direction  of  his  mind  towards  a  peerage. 
The  General  Preface  to  these  memorials,  and  the 
Memorial  to  the  Sovereigns  of  America,  respec- 
tively, bear  the  simple  signature,  "  Pownall  ; " 
as  if,  when  subscribing  it,  the  writer  had  "  in  his 
mind's  eye"  his  first  patent  of  nobility:  —  "Ba- 
ron PowNALL,  OP  Pownall-Fee,  iii  the  Count/ 
of  Chester,"  would  both  look  and  sound  well ;  and 
perhaps,  peering  still  further  into  the  vista  of  fu- 
turity, his  <  aching  sight'  may  have  been  spared 
a  glimpse  of  his  own  brow,  surmounted  by  that 
object  of  the  ambition  of  his  ancestors  —  the 
chamberlapnes  of  the  second  and  third  Edwards 
—  the  coronet  of  an  Earl ! "  "  There  was  a  time," 
says  Junius, "  .  .  .  .  when  titles  were  the 
reward  of  public  virtue,  and  when  the  crown  did 
not  think  its  revenue  ill  employed  in  contributing 
to  support  the  honours  it  had  bestowed."  ^ 

Among  the  minor  indicia  tending  to  identify 
Governor  Pownall  with  Junius,  it  may  not  be 
amiss  to  point  out  a  coincidence  in  their  avowed 
motives  for  writing  anonymously.  In  his  letter 
to  Wilkes,  of  Sept.  18, 1771,  Junius  says, — "  Be- 
sides every  personal    consideration,  if  I  were 


1  Misc.  Letter  XXXVII.,  vol.  ui.  121. 


JUNIUS  DISOOVBRBD. 


189 


known,  I  could  no  longer  be  an  useful  servant  to 
the  public.  At  present  there  is  something  orac- 
ular in  the  delivery  of  my  opinions.  I  speak 
from  a  recess  which  no  human  curiosity  can  pen- 
etrate, and  darkness,  we  are  told,  is  one  source  of 
the  sublime.  —  The  mystery  of  Junius  increases 
his  importance."  ^  The  first  edition  of  Governor 
Pownall's  Memorial  to  the  Sovereigns  of  Europe 
was  published  in  1780,  anonymously;  and  when 
a  new  edition  appeared  in  1784,  the  authorship 
was  avowed  in  the  following  terms :  "  Although 
at  the  first  publication  of  the  Memorial  addressed 
to  the  Sovereigns  of  Europe  I  withheld  my  name, 
I  never  denied  my  being  the  author.  .... 
I  had  therefore  nothing  to  conceal  respecting  my- 
self  personally I  wished  that  the 

world  might  receive  the  state  of  the  case  iiolely 
on  the  authority  of  the  facts,  and  not  on  that  of 
the  testimony  of  any  name :  That  it  might  re- 
ceive the  proof  of  the  argument  from  the  demon- 
stration of  its  reasoning ;  and  not  from  the  opin- 
ions of  any  person,  howsoever  supposed  to  be  in- 
formed in  those  matters.  I  could  not  but  be  con- 
scious, that,  with  many,  my  name  would,  in  this 
business,  be  attended  by  strong  prejudices,  both 
for  and  against  the  opinions  and  advices  which 
this  Tract  contains:  I  therefore  withheld  my 
name."  2  Junius  and  Governor  Pownall  alike 
thought  more  of  the  soundness  of  their  opinions 


1  Vol.  i.  314. 


*  General  Preface  to  Three  MemoriaU,  etc« 


190 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


and  arguments,  than  of  their  personal  influence 
with  the  public ;  and  each  of  them  desired  that 
his  opinions  and  arguments  should  be  judged  on 
their  intrinsic  merits,  by  minds  unbiassed  by  any 
such  prejudice  as  might  be  excited  by  a  knowl- 
edge of  his  name.  Hence,  each  of  them  withheld 
his  name ;  but  Governor  Pownall  had  nothing  — 
whilst  Junius  had  every  thing- — to  fear  from  its 
subsequent  disclosure :  —  the  one  therefore  after- 
wards avowed  his  authorship,  while  the  other 
continued  sedulously  to  conceal  it. 

Before  closing  our  self-imposed  task,  we  would 
notice  a  slight  clue,  from  which  some  reader  more 
fortunately  situated  than  we  are,  iot  ferreting  out 
information,  may  possibly  trace  a  friendly  con- 
nexion between  Governor  Pownall  and  Sir  Philip 
Francis,  whereby  the  opinion,  that  the  latter  was 
the  amanuensis  of  Junius,  may  be  strengthened, 
if  not  confirmed. 

In  his  Administration  of  the  Colonies}^  Gover- 
nor Pownall,  in  discussing  the  question  of  a  colo- 
nial paper-currency,  says,  — "  On  this  subject,  I 
here  refer  the  reader  to  the  following  very  judi- 
cious tract,  written  and  given  to  me,  several  years 
«^go»  l^y  Tench  Francis^  Esq.;  late  Attorney-gen- 
eral of  the  province  of  Pennsylvania,  conversant 
in  these  matters,  both  as  a  lawyer  and  a  mer- 
chant. I  print  and  publish  it  hy  leave  of  a 
near  relation^  and  subjoin  it  as  containing  the 

>- 4th  Edition.!).  190. 


JUKTIUS  DISOOVEBED* 


191 


most  exact  and  decisive  sentiments,  on  this  sub- 
ject, that  I  have  anywhere  met  with.     I  entitle 
it—  Considerations  on  a  Paper  Currency."  Tench 
Francis,  was  Attorney-general  of  Pennsylvania, 
from  1744  to  1752,  and  Recorder  of  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  from  1750  to  1755.    He  married,  in 
1724,  Miss  Elizabeth  Turbutt,  of  Maryland,  and 
died  about  the  year  1760.    He  was  brother— 
and,  we  believe,  only  brother,  of  Dr.  Philip  Fran- 
cis, the  translator  of  Horace  and  Demosthenes, 
and  father  of  Sir  Philip  Francis ;  and  the  Doctor 
was  the  near  relation  who  gave  leave  to  Gover- 
nor Pownall  to  print  and  publish  the  Considered 
tions.    Besides  the  reasonable  inference  of  inti- 
macy to  be  drawn  from  the  circumstance  of  'At- 
torney-general Francis  writing  and  giving  to  Gov- 
ernor Pownall,  a  tract  of  the  description  men- 
tioned, their  official  acquaintance  with  each  other 
may  fairly  be  presumed,  from  their  relative  public 
stations,  as  well  when  Governor  Pownall  first 
visited  America,  as  previously,  when  he  was  Sec- 
retary to  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  trade  and 
plantations.     If  it  can  be  shown,  that  the  Fran- 
cis and  Pownall  families,  in  England,  were  on 
social  terms  with  each  other,  then  the  probability 
of  Sir  Philip  having  been  the  amanuensis  and 
private  friend  of  Junius,^  wiU  be  enhanced.     For 
the  above  particulars  respecting  Attorney-general 

^  And,  perhaps  also, "  the  gentleman  yirho  transacts  the  convey- 
ancing part  of  our  correspondence."    Letter  to  Woodfall,  No.  51. 


192 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


Tench  Francis,  we  are  indebted  to  the  kindness 
of  one  of  his  great-grandsons,  resident  in  Phila- 
delphia ;  who  has  in  his  possession  several  amus- 
ing letters  addressed  by  Sir  Philip,  to  his  cousin, 
Colonel  Turbutt  Francis,  of  Maryland,  about  the 
time  of  the  letters  of  Junius.  These,  we  are  given 
to  understand,  do  not,  by  any  means,  support  the 
pretensions  of  those  persons  who  claim  for  Sir 
Philip  the  authorship  of  the  letters  of  Junius.^ 

1 A  propos  de  bottea.  Besides  the  existence  of  his  abore  named 
uncle,  the  biographers  of  Sir  Philip  Francis  appear  to  have  over- 
looked his  first  marriage,  viz.,  on  tiie  27th  of  Feb.,  1762,  to  Miss 
Macrabie ;  and  his  appointment,  in  the  following  December,  as 
Deputy  Secretary  at  War.'  {London  Magazine  for  1762,  p.  165, 
and  Appendix  thereto,  p.  724.)  —  Sir  Philip's  second  wife  was  Em* 
ma,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  H.  Watkins.  They  were  married  in 
December,  1814,  only  four  years  before  Sir  Philip's  death.  Miss 
Watkins  was  then  in  her  36th  year,  and  her  acquaintance  with 
Sir  Philip,  according  to  her  own  account,  dated  no  farther  back 
than  1 805.  If  Lord  Campbell,  and — after  him — Mr.  Wade  had 
duly  kept  these  circumstances  in  view,  neither  of  them  would 
have  laid  the  stress  they  both  have  done  upon  her  Ladyship's  let- 
ter {Lives  of  the  Lord  Chancelhrs,  vol.  vi.,  p.  344,  in  note),  written 
for  his  Lordship,  and  addressed  to  Mr.  Edward  Dubois,  Sir  Phil- 
ip's quondam  secretary ;  nor  would  either  of  them  have  adduced 
it  as  containing  proof, "  wholly  conclusive,"  in  favor  of  Sir  Philip, 
of  the  great  question  of  the  authorship  of  the  letters  of  Junius. 
When  analyzed,  the  letter  of  Lady  Francis  amounts  to  no  more 
than  a  declaration,  that  she  had  so  long  suspected  her  husband  of 
having  been  Junius,  that  her  mind  was,  at  length,  brought  to  the 
belief,  that  he  really  was  so :  —  it,  in  fact,  proves,  that  her  '*  wish  " 
—  and  her  wish  alone — that  Sir  Philip  should  be  Junius,  "was 
father  to  the  thought,"  that  he  was  so ;  and  this,  although  trans- 
parent throughout  the  letter,  has  imposed  upon  the  clear  intellect 
of  a  far-seeing  Lord  Chief-justice,  and  the  literaiy  acumei^  of  an 
experienced  editor  and  essayist ! 


JtNIUS  DISOOTERBD. 


m 


iidness 

PhUa- 
[  amus- 
cousin, 
lOut  the 
e  given 
port  the 

for  Sir 
ius.^ 

yre  named 
have  over- 
2,  to  Miss 
>ember,  as 
i2,  p.  165, 
fe  was  Em> 
married  in 
^.    Miss 
Lce  with 
ther  back 
I  Wade  had 
[em  would 
'Ship's  let- 
i),  written 
I,  Sir  Phil- 
adduced 
|Sir  Philip, 
of  Junius. 
no  more 
nsband  of 
jght  to  the 
!r"wish" 
|ius,  "was 
ugh  trans- 
kr  intellect 
len  of  an 


" '  In  conclusion,  we  would  beg  the  reader  to  re- 
peruse  Dr.  Mason  Good's  summary  of  the  char- 
acteristics necessary  to  be  combined  in  one  per- 
son, to  entitle  him  to  be  called  the  author  of  the 
Letters  of  Junius;  and  if  on  such  reperusal, 
he  shall  feel  convinced,  that  those  characteristics 
were,  in  every  essential  particular,  combined  in 
the  person  of  Governor  Pownall,  he  will  not 
hesitate  to  concede  to  the  humble  writer  of  these 
pages  the  honour  of  being — the  discoverer  of 
Junius. 


As  intimated  in  the  postscript  to  our  preface 
and  dedication,  we  now  proceed  to  lay  before  the 
reader  some  additional  evidence,  discovered  dur- 
ing our  short  visit  to  the  British  metropolis  last 
spring. 

This  evidence  consists  of  twenty-seven  original 
letters,  written  by  Grovemor  Pownall,  in  1769, 
and  the  three  following  years,  and  one  written  in 
1774.  All  of  them,  with  one  exception,  are  ad- 
dressed, or,  on  sufficient  grounds,  are  presumed 
to  have  been  addressed,  to  the  Reverend  Samuel 
Cooper,  I).  D.,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  one  of 
the  Fellows  of  Harvard  College ;  and  they  have 
reference  to  those  political  relations  and  disagree- 
ments between  Great  Britain  and  her  American 

13 


194 


JUmUS   DISCOVERED. 


colonies,  out  of  which,  shortly  afterwards,  arose 
the  independency  of  the  latter,  as  a  nation.  The 
exception  alluded  to,  is  the  penultimate  letter, 
which  is  addressed  to  Samuel  Adams,  Esquire, 
of  Boston.  For  the  convenience  of  reference,  we 
have  numbered  them  from  1  to  27. 

The  first  twelve  belong  to  the  year  1769,  No. 
1  bearing  date,  at  its  commencement,  the  30th  of 
January  (nine  days  after  the  publication  of  the 
first  of  Junius's  acknowledged  letters),  and  be- 
ing continued  on  the  6th  of  the  following  month : 
these  are  followed  by  nine  of  the  year  1770,  three 
of  1771,  two  of  1772,  and  one  of  1774.  The 
greater  part  of  No.  1,  and  the  whole  of  Nos.  12 
and  22,  (except  the  closing  words  and  signatures, 
which  are  in  the  Governor's  own  handvmting,) 
are  in  a  beautiful  free  running  hand,  not  improb- 
ably, that  of  the  Governor's  brother,  John  Pow- 
nall ;  and  as,  in  the  formation  of  most  of  the  let- 
ters, are  to  be  seen  the  general  characteristics  of 
Junius's  finer  penmanship — we  mean  that  which 
appears  to  have  been  v^nritten  with  a  crow-quill 
pen — we  may  easily  imagine,  that  when  the 
writer  chose  to  disguise  his  handwriting,  by  form- 
ing the  letters  nearly  perpendicular,  instead  of 
giving  them  the  ordinary  slope,  it  would,  in  almost 
every  respect,  assume  the  appearance  of  Junius's 
finer  handwriting.  Although  the  handwriting 
in  question  differs  much  from  that  of  Governor 
Pownall,  yet  in  many   particulars  it  bears  a 


JUNIUS  DISCOV£RED. 


195 


strong  affinity  —  a  species  of  family  resemblance 
—  to  it. 

No.'s  2  and  4,  are  so  remarkably  like  the  pub- 
lished fac-similes  of  the  handwriting  of  ]V&.-» 
afterwards  Sir  Philip  Francis,  that  we  do  not  hes- 
itate to  express  our  opinion,  that  on  those  two 
occasions  he  was  Governor  Pownall's  amanuensis.' 

The  continuation  of  No.  1,  and  all  the  remain- 
ing letters,  are  wholly  written  by  the  Governor 
himself,  in  a  bold,  off-hand  style,  greatly  resem- 
bling, not  only  in  the  formation  of  particular  let- 
ters and  words,  but  in  the  general  appearance  of 
the  mass — or  tout-ensemble  of  the  words,  the 
published  specimens  of  the  bolder  kinds  of  Ju- 
nius's  handwriting :  —  the  peculiar  formation  of 
the  letters  m,  n,  and  tr,  mentioned  in  our  note 
on  page  74,  both  separately  and  when  in  combi- 
nation, is  precisely  the  same  as  that  of  Junius. 

No.  17,  which  bears  a  dash,  in  place  of  a  sig- 
nature, is  the  most  remarkable  of  the  series ;  for, 
while  its  ordinary  closing  words  —  "  I  am  Dr  Sir, 
Yr.  affect,  friend,  and  faithfuU  servt.  — ,"  and  its 
original  interior  address  "For  y«  Rev*d  Dr. 
Cooper"  (scrawled  over  at  some  later  date  by 
another  hand,  and  with  different  ink),  are  in  the 
Governor's  ordinary  handwriting,  although  some- 
what less  bold  than  usual,  the  body  of  the  letter  is 
in  a  disguised  style,  which  is  yet  so  superficial  as 
to  be  easily  detected  as  the  handwriting  of  the 
Crovernor  himself;  and  that  disguise,  although 


196 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


principally  formed  by  giving  the  letters  somewhttt 
mote  than  the  ordinary  slope,  instead  of  raising 
them  to  a  nearly  vertical  position,  yet  so  strongly 
resembles  the  handwriting  of  Junius,  both  in  its 
general  features,  and  in  its  peculiarities,  that  it  is 
really  not  easy  to  withhold  an  assent  to  the  prop- 
osition, that  it  and  the  letters  of  Junius  were 
written  by  one  and  the  same  hand.  Unfortu- 
nately, the  shortness  of  our  stay  in  London,  after 
we  had  discovered  these  letters  of  the  Governor, 
precluded  us  from  obtaining  fac-similes  of  portions 
of  them ;  and  we  must  therefore  content  our- 
selves with  indicating  where  they  are  to  be  found, 
and  hoping  that  ere  long  such  specimens  of  them 
may  be  published  as  shall  enable  the  reader  to 
judge  of  them  for  himself. 

They  are  in  "  the  King's  library  "  in  the  British 
Museum,  richly  bound  together  in  crimson  mo- 
rocco, and  lettered  —  "  Original  Letters,  from 
Governor  Pownall  to  the  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper, 
wntten  in  the  years  1769, 1770,  1771, 1772, 1773, 
atnd  1774,  on  American  Politics" — and  with  them 
are  two  other  volumes,  bound  and  lettered  in  the 
same  style;  the  one  containing  original  letters 
from  Dr.  Franklin  to  the  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper,  and 
the  other,  draughts  and  copies,  in  his  own  hand- 
writing, of  letters  from  Dr.  Cooper  to  Governor 
Pownall  and  Dr.  Franklin;  but  of  these  we  can 
say  little  or  nothing,  as  time  would  not  admit  of 
pur  giving  them  more  than  a  cursory  inspection. 


JUNIUS  BISCOVBRBI). 


197 


With  the  three  volumes,  there  is  a  fourth,  in  like 
manner  bound  and  lettered,  containing  copies  (in 
a  writing-master's  most  formal  style !)  of  Gover- 
nor Pownall  and  Dr.  Franklin's  letters,  preceded 
by  an  address  of  presentment  of  the  originals  to 
the  King,  including  therein  the  following  account 
of  the  manner  in  which  they  came  into  the  hands 
of  their  then  possessor :  — 

"  Immediately  after  the  affair  of  Lexington, 
which  happened  on  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  the 
town  of  Boston  was  surrounded  by  the  rebels, 
and  all  intercourse  with  the  country  was  cut  off: 
those  who  were  in  the  town  were  not  allowed  to 
quit  it,  without  the  permission  of  the  Commander- 
in-chief,  and  no  person  was  allowed  to  pass  the 
lines  to  go  into  the  country,  without  first  being 
searched  by  the  officers  appointed  by  the  General 
for  that  purpose.  At  this  time,  many  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  the  disaffected  party  were  still  in  the 
town;  and  among  the  rest,  the  Reverend  Dr. 
Cooper,  minister  of  the  gospel  to  one  of  the  reli- 
gious societies  in  that  town;  a  man  of  great 
weight  and  influence  among  the  people,  who  ad- 
mired him  as  much  for  his  abilities,  as  they  re- 
spected him  on  account  of  his  holy  profession, 
and  his  exemplary  life  and  conversation.  He, 
with  many  others,  made  immediate  application 
for  leave  to  quit  the  town,  and  obtained  a  pass- 
port for  that  purpose. 
^  At  this  time,  he  had  in  his  possession,  the 


108 


JUNIUS  BIBCOVBRKD. 


original  of  tiie  following  letters  from  Dr.  Franklin, 
together  with  the  original  draughts  of  his  answers, 
and  a  great  number  of  letters  from  Governor 
Pownall,  written  at  the  same  time.  Being  un- 
willing to  destroy  these  papers,  and  afraid  of  de- 
tection if  he  attempted  to  take  them  with  him 
through  the  lines,  he  determined  to  leave  them 
behind,  in  the  hands  of  a  confidential  friend,  with 
directions  to  forward  them  to  him  by  the  first  safe 
conveyance.  He  accordingly  packed  them  all  up 
together  in  a  bundle,  and  sent  them  to  Mr.  Jef- 
fries, one  of  the  selectmen  of  Boston,  who  at  that 
time  was  sick,  and  unable  to  leave  the  town.  He 
was  confined  to  his  bed  when  these  papers  were 
brought  to  him ;  they  were  therefore  put  by  in  a 
trunk,  which  contained  other  things  of  his  own. 
As  soon  as  Mr.  Jeffries  was  recovered  from  his 
illness,  he  left  the  town,  and  followed  the  rest  of 
his  party  into  the  country. 

"  His  son.  Dr.  John  Jeffries,  who  is  now  one  of 
the  surgeons  to  the  hospital  at  New  York,  not 
choosing  to  take  part. in  the  rebellion,  refused  to 
accompany  his  father  into  the  country.  With 
this  son,  he  left  every  thing  that  he  could  not  take 
with  him,  and,  among  other  things,  the  before- 
mentioned  trunk ;  either  not  knowing,  or  forget- 
ing  that  it  contained  a  treasure  that  belonged  to 
his  friend.  This  trunk  remained  nearly  a  year  in 
Dr.  Jeffries'  possession,  without  his  knowing  what 
it  contained,  till,  upon  the  evacuation  of  Boston 


JUNIUS   DIBOOVBRBD. 


199 


in  the  month  of  March  following,  collecting  his 
effects,  in  order  to  embarlc  with  them  for  Halifax, 
he  accidentally  discovered  the  packet  of  letters, 
and,  finding  them  interesting,  took  care  to  pre- 
serve them.  From  Halifax  he  brought  them  with 
him  in  January  last,  and  made  a  present  of  them 
to  Mr.  Thompson,  who  now  presumes,  most  hum- 
bly, to  lay  them  at  His  Majesty's  feet,  as  a  lit- 
erary, as  well  as  a  political  curiosity." 

Who  "  Mr.  Thompson  "  was,  does  not  appear ;  * 
and  as  there  is  no  date  to  the  address,  we  can 
only  guess  from  the  words  "  in  January  last,"  that 
it  was  presented  to  His  Majesty  in  a  later  month 
in  the  year  1779,  as  "  at  the  evacuation  of  Boston, 
Dr.  Jeffries  embarked  with  the  troops,  and  went 
to  Halifax,  and  was  appointed  chief  of  the  surgi- 
cal staff  in  Nova-Scotia ; "  and  "  in  1779,  he  went 
to  England."  2 

It  is  stated  in  our  essay,  that  Governor  Pow- 
nall  took  up  his  residence  at  Richmond,  shortly 
after  his  return  from  Germany,  in  1763 ;  and  from 
letter  24,  it  now  appears  t)iat  his  country  residence 
was  at  Richmond,  whence  that,  and  the  preced- 
ing letter,  bear  date ;  while  his  town-house,  in 
London,  was  in  Albemarle  street,  whence  eleven 
others  of  the  letters  are  dated.    Junius,  while  — 


-,  tow'ring  in  hia  pride  of  place/ 


^  Probably  he  was  the  King's  librarian. 
^Sabine's  Biographical  Sketches  of  American  Loyalists  — 
p.  385. 


200 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


could  have  chosen  no  better  "  local  habitation  " 
than  either  of  these.  The  Governor's  will,  which 
we  have  seen  in  Doctors'  Commons^  shows  that 
the  town-house  was  his  own  property. 

A  trifling,  but  yet  significant  peculiarity  may 
be  observed  in  the  manner  of  dating  these  letters. 
It  is  this,  —  that  in  all  of  those  which  are  dated 
by  the  Governor  himself,  the  numeral  date  follows 
the  name  of  the  month ;  and  the  same  peculiarity 
is  observable  in  all  the  private  letters  of  Junius  to 
Wbodfall :  the  dates  of  the  public  letters,  are  not 
as  they  were  written  by  Junius,  but  are  the  dates 
on  which  those  letters  appeared  in  the  Public 
Advertiser.^ 

With  regard  to  the  letters  themselves,  gener- 
ally,—  if  the  reader  expects  to  find  in  them  the 
same  finished,  compressed,  antithetical  style, 
which  pervades  the  letters  of  Junius,  we  tell  him 
plainly,  that  he  will  be  disappointed ;  and  for  the 
very  good  reason,  that  in  his  expectation  he  is 
unreasonable.  To  disbelieve  that  these  letters, 
written,  as  they  were,  in  the  full  confidence  of 
private  friendship,  and  without  any  view  to  future 
publication,  are  not  the  emanations  of  the  same 
mind  that  produced  the  letters  of  Junius,  only 
because  they  do  not  exhibit  in  their  composition 
an  equal  fire  —  an  equal  force  —  an  equal  laboilr 
to  express  ideas  in  the  fewest,  but  yet  most  com- 
prehensive words,  would  be  about  as  reasonable 


1  Preface,  vol.  i.  349  et  seq. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


liiOl 


as  to  disbelieve  that  a  certain  peasant  walking 
the  earth  like  other  mortals,  was  a  VendSe-3.n 
peasant,  only  because  we  have  never  seen  a 
VendSe-em  peasant  walk  the  earth  otherwise  than 
on  his  native  stilts.  The  avowed  writings  of  Ju- 
nius were,  according  to  his  own  account,  not  pro- 
duced without  much  labour,^  —  the  errors  of  the 
original  MSS.  never  appeared  in  the  Public  Ad' 
vertiser,  when  time  was  allowed  the  printer  to 
correct  them:— of  the  first  genuine  edition,  the 
proof-sheets  of  the  first  two  letters  only  were  cor- 
rected by  the  author ;  and  those  of  the  remainder 
by  Woodfall ;  while  the  Preface  and  Dedication  ' 
were  submitted  to  the  revision  of  Mr.  Wilkes.'* 
That  Woodfall's  corrections  occasionally  ex- 
tended further  than  the  proof-sheets,  may  be  gath- 
ered from  the  letter  to  him  of  August  16th,  1769, 
in  which  Junius  says  — "  Your  correction  was 
perfectly  right.  The  sense  required  it,  and  I  am 
much  obliged  to  you.  ....  you  know,  I 
do  not,  nor  indeed  have  I  time,  to  give  equal  care 
to  them  all ; "  ^  —  and  also  from  those  to  him  of 
Dec.  26, 1769,  and  Feb.  21,  1771 ;  in  the  former 
of  which  Junius  says  —  "  As  to  embowelling,  do 
whatever  you  think  proper,  provided  you  leave  it 
intelligible  to  vulgar  capacities ; "  *  —  and  in  the 
latter  —  "I  leave  it  to  you  to  alter,  or  omit,  as  you 

1  Letter  to  Woodfall,  No.  24,  vol.  i.  214. 

2  Prel.  Essay,  vol.  1.  91,— letter  to  Woodfall,  No.  40,  vol.  i.  228. 
»  lb.  No.  7,197.  *  lb.  No.  17,  206. 


202 


JUNIUS   DISGOVEKEO. 


think  proper;  —  or  bvrn  it."^ — Also,  in  letter 
XIII.,  sighed  Phih-Junius^  he  says,  —  "  As  for  his 
style,  I  shall  leave  it  to  the  critics.  The  truth  of 
his  facts  is  of  more  importance  to  the  public ; "  ^ 
— and  in  letter  XXIX.,  with  the  same  signature 
—  "  Notwithstanding  the  partiality  of  the  public, 
it  does  not  appear  that  Junius  values  himself 
upon  any  superior  skill  in  composition,  and  I 
hope  his  time  will  always  be  more  usefully  em- 
ployed than  in  the  trifling  refinements  of  verbal 
criticism."  ^  But,  notwithstanding  all  the  labour 
of  the  author,  and  the  corrections  made  by  the 
original  printer  and  publisher,  "  numerous  errors 
of  grammar  and  construction,"  says  Mr.  Butler, 
in  his  Reminiscences,  "are  to  be  discovered  in 
these  celebrated  letters ; "  and  to  the  like  effect 
say  Dr.  Good,*  and  Lord  Brougham.*^  If  such 
be  the  case  then  with  writings  originally  pre- 
pared for  publication,  and  subsequently,  on  re- 
publication,   corrected,    and    recorrected,    it    is 


1  Prel.  Essay,  vol.  i.  91, —letter  to  Woodfall,  No.  33,  vol.  i.  220. 

2  Vol.  i.  493.         8  Vol.  ii.  28.         *  Prel.  Essay,  vol.  i.  91. 
^Statesmen  of  the  time  of  Geo.  III.,  vol.  i.  113.  —  From  the 

responsibility  of  one  error,  however,  we  must  relieve  Junius.  The 
beautiful  metaphor  at  the  close  of  the  42nd  letter,  (vol.  ii.  194,) 
is  thus  printed  in  G.  Woodfall's  edition  of  1814:  —  "Private 
credit  is  wealth ;  —  public  honour  is  security.  —  The  feather  that 
adorns  the  royal  bird,  supports  its  flight.  Strip  him  of  his  plu- 
mage, and  you  fix  him  to  the  earth."  The  pronoun  its,  which  we 
have  italicized,  was,  in  Junius's  own  edition,  (vol.  ii.  145,)  printed 
• —  his. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


203 


scarcely  reasonable  to  look  for  the  elaborated  com- 
position of  the  letters  of  Junius,  in  the  private 
letters  of  Governor  Pownall,  written  as  these  were 
without  a  view  of  their  ever  passing  beyond  the 
circle  of  his  and  his  correspondent's  immediate 
friends.  The  impartial  reader  will  no  doubt  bear 
this  in  mind,  whenever  he  catches  the  Governor 
tripping  in  his  grammar^  and  will  set  down  any 
occasional  defect  in  grammatical  construction,  as 
another  presumption  in  favour  of  the  Governor's 
identity  with  Junius.  The  Governor  might  truly 
have  said,  with  Junius, — "I  was  not  born  to  be 
a  commentator,  even  upon  my  own  works."  ^ 
Yet  are  these  letters  neither  unworthy  of  the 
fame,  nor  wholly  devoid  of  the  style — even  "the 
ornamented  style  "^ — of  the  great  nominis  um- 
bra:— on  the  contrary,  there  will  be  found  in 
them  much  of  the  same  patriotic  spirit — the 
same  fearless  independence  of  mind — the  same 
interest  in  the  cause  of  the  people^ — the  same 
contempt  for  the  ministry  of  the  day — and,  oc- 
casionally, the  same  comprehensive,  antithetical 
modes  of  expression,  and  of  reasoning — that  are 
so  remarkable  in  the  letters  q/"  Junius. 


1  Preface,  vol.  i.  350.  2  Letter  XXXI.,  vol.  ii.  45. 

*  No.  63,  vol.  i.  255,  —  vol.  ii.  344  et  seq. 


204 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED, 


LETTER  I. 


o 
o 


London,  Jan'y  30, 1769. 

Dear  Sir: — The  American  affairs  being  now 
actually  under  consideration,  and  I  having  taken 
so  large  a  part  in  Parliament  relative  thereto,  my 
whole  time  is  so  entirely  engrossed,  that  I  have 
scarcely  leisure  to  write  this  kind  of  note. 

I  do  intend  hereafter  to  enter  with  you  into  the 
discussion  of  the  several  points  of  opinion,  and 
matters  of  conduct,  contained  in  your  letters  of 
Oct.  5,  and  Nov.  26 ;  (which  are  the  only  two  let- 
ters I  have  lately  received  from  you, — if  there  be 
any  others  that  you  have  written,  they  have  not 
come  to  hand,  which  I  mention  to  put  you  on 
your  guard) — at  present,  I  can  only  give  you  as 
it  were  notice  of  the  course  which  things  are  in, 
without  being  able  to  form  any  judgment  how 
they  will  end. 

I  need  not  mention  to  you  the  King's  speech, 
as  you  will  doubtless  have  seen  it.  The  matters 
relative  to  America  contained  therein  were  in- 
tended as  the  foundation  of  such  measures  as 
Ministry  intended  bringing  before  parliament  in 
the  course  of  the  session.  I  thought  it  improper 
to  enter  at  all  into  any  part  of  that  day's  debate, 
but  reserved  what  I  had  to  say,  till  the  measure 
itself  should  be  laid  before   Parliament.     The 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


205 


measure  has  been  since  brought  forward,  and 
originated  in  the  House  of  Lords:  and  consists 
of  a  set  of  resolutions  relative  to  the  conduct  of 
the  town  of  Boston,  in  the  province  of  M.  B.,  charg- 
ing them  with  several  misdemeanors  and  criminal 
proceedings ;  and  for  an  address  to  the  King, 
founded  on  that  charge,  beseeching  him  to  direct 
his  Governor  to  make  inquiry  as  to  treason  and 
misprision  of  treason,  and  the  most  active  com- 
mitters of  those  offences ;  in  order  that  his  M.  may, 
on  the  act  of  the  35th  of  Henry  8th,  issue  a  spe- 
cial commission  for  the  hearing  and  determining 
these  matters  within  the  realm,  in  case  there 
should  be  sufficient  ground  for  such  proceeding. 

I  take  this  measure  up  in  two  views  —  first,  as 
to  the  expediency  of  it  as  a  political  measure  — • 
secondly,  as  to  the  foundation  and  justice  of  itj 
as  a  proceeding  of  the  House  of  C,  acting  on  this 
occasion  as  the  grand  inquest  of  the  nation.  I 
shall  not  speak  to  the  first  head,  till  it  is  a  com- 
plete measure  reported  from  the  committee  to  the 
House,  which  is  to  be  done  on  Friday  next,  when 
it  is  understood  that  I  am  to  take  the  lead,  and 
open  the  debate  in  opposition  to  this  measure. 

In  the  committee  on  Friday  last,  I  spoke  to  the 
second  head ;  and  considered  the  resolutions  and 
address  which  the  Lords  sent  to  us  for  our  con- 
currence, as  a  bill  of  indictment  of  the  grand  in- 
quest :  and  therefore  entered  into  the  considera- 
tion of  the  charges  therein  made  as  to  the  mat- 


206 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


ters  of  fact  and  evidence  on  which  they  were 
founded,  which  I  took  the  liberty  to  say,  were 
false  and  groundless.  I  here  refer  you  to  the  res- 
olutions, which  I  really  have  not  time  to  get  cop- 
ied, but  of  which  I  suppose  you  will  have  num- 
bers of  copies  sent  to  you.  I  would  send  yoii  a 
transcript  of  what  I  said  on  that  occasion,  but 
have  much  less  time  to  examine  the  correctness 
of  what  was  taken  down :  —  I  can  only  acquaint 
you,  upon  the  second  resolution,  that  I  convinced 
the  committee,  and  ministry  itself,  that  the  reso- 
lution in  January  of  the  House  of  representatives, 
therein  referred  to,  of  writing  letters  to  the  other 
assemblies  on  the  continent  to  Join  with  them,  etc. 
—  on  which  the  resolution  of  the  House  of  Lords 
was  founded  —  was  never  laid  before  that  House, 
and  never  could  have  been  laid  before  that  House, 
as  it  did  never  exist ;  and  that  therefore  the  charge 
of  unwarrantable  and  dangerous  proceedings, 
tending  to  create  unlawful  combinations,  etc.,  was 
not  founded  in  fact  and  evidence,  so  far  [as]  that 
resolution  was  made  a  ground  for  the  charge: 
[here  follows  a  running  commentary  upon  the  sev- 
eral resolutions  and  address  of  the  House  of  Lords ;  ^ 
after  which  the  Governor  proceeds ;] 

Besides  going  into  this  defence  of  the  town  and 


1  The  resolutions,  eight  in  number,  were  passed  by  the  House 
of  Lords,  on  the  15th  of  Dec,  1768,  at  the  instance  of  the  Earl  of 
Hillsborough ;  and  the  address,  founded  thereon,  was  adopted  on 
motion  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford.    And  see  ante,,  p.  1 16  et  seq^. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


207 


province,  as  to  the  charges  exhibited  against  them 
in  the  resolutions,  I  called  upon  Government  to 
make  one  charge  more,  and  challenged  them  to 
exhibit  a  charge  against  the  town  for  refusing  to 
quarter  the  troops,  —  and  upon  this  head  said, 
that  the  act  was  such  a  foolish,  indecisive,  im- 
practicable law,  that  it  could  not  be  carried  into 
execution.  —  [It  will  be  necessary  to  give  a  cau- 
tion here,  that  what  I  might  say  in  debate  in  par- 
liament, can  neither  be  said  nor  written,  much 
less  published,  with  safety,  out  of  those  walls] ; 
— that  the  General  had  written  word,  that  the 
clause  in  ii,  ^rn.8  incompatible  with  the  circum- 
stances of  the  province ;  and  that  another  of  the 
servants  of  the  Crown  had  written,  that,  as  it  was 
capable  of  being  explained,  it  was  an  act  to  pre- 
vent the  quartering  his  Majesty's  troops  in  Amer- 
ica ;  —  and  that  therefore,  if  nobody  else  did  move 
for  the  repealing  or  amending  it,  I  should  do  it. 

As  I  have  said  in  one  particular,  I  must  beg  to 
caution  you  upon  the  whole,  that  many  things 
which  I  have  above  stated  to  you  as  passing 

within  the  walls  of  our  H ,  cannot,  with  safety 

to  myself  or  any  other,  be  made  public  out  of,  or 
beyond  those  walls. 


Feb.  6.  —  I  kept  my  letter  back,  in  hopes  to 
have  sent  you  some  further  account  of  our  pro- 
ceedings on  American  affairs,  but  the  proceed- 
ings against  Mr.  Wilkes  have  put  off  these  mat- 


208 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


ters.  ^  The  ship  by  which  I  should  send  my  letters, 
I  am  told  sails  today  —  so  must  close.  The 
Report  on  American  affairs  is  to  be  received  — 
Wednesday,  8th,  when  we  shall  have  a  pretty 
smart  debate.  Besides  opposition  which  I  shall 
give  to  the  resolutions  and  address,  not  only  as 
a  bill  of  indictment  and  presentment,  but  as  a 
measure^  in  both  which  views  I  shall  consider  it, 
and  speak  of  them  in  words  that  I  will  not  ven- 
ture to  use  out  of  the  House. 

You  say  in  your  letters  —  "  Strange,  that  no- 
body will  think  of  some  measure  that  will  re- 
establish matters  on  their  right  footing:"  —  If 
you  did  but  know  how  impracticable  (nay  —  im- 
possible) it  is  for  an  individual — nay,  any  body  of 
them  who  are  of,  or  are  permitted  by,  ministry,  to 
bring  forward  any  measure,  you  would  cease  to 
wonder.  However,  as  Ministry  have  proposed 
nothing  —  as  nobody  seems  to  have  thought  of 
any  thing  —  I  will  bring  forward,  on  Wednesday, 
some  propositions  of  which  the  following  are  the 
contents :  — 

1.  That  we  take  the  old  ground  which  matters 
stood  upon  before  the  late  innovations.  — 

2.  That  we  act  upon  that  ground  as  Govern- 
ment always  has  done  (till  of  late),  ever  since  the 
establishment  of  the  colonies. 

I  shall  take  up  the  doctrine  of  the  distinction 
between  internal  and  external  taxes,  as  the  prin- 
ciple of  my  plan  — 


wmtmmmmm 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


209 


Explaining  the  justice  and  constitutional  equity 
of  our  abstaining  from  the  first  — 

And  the  manner  of  laying  the  latter  —  not  ac- 
cording to  late  precedents,  but  —  according  to  the 
invariable  old  practice.     Sat  sapienti  dictum.     I 
have  not  time  to  say  more  — 
I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Your  sincere  friend, 

and  faithful  humble, 

T.    POWNALL. 


LETTER  II. 


latters 

)vern- 
|ce  the 

iction 
prin- 


Albemarle  street,  London,  13th  Feb'y,  1769. 

Dear  Sir  :  —  In  addition  to  what  I  wrote  you 
in  my  last,  of  the  part  which  I  had  taken  in  your 
affairs,  lately  before  parliament,  I  should  here 
have  troubled  you  with  the  remaining  part  of 
what  I  said  upon  the  occasion,  but  as  it  is  possi- 
ble you  may  have  other  opportunities  of  being 
informed  of  it,  I  will  not  here  enter  into  it. 

I  cannot  as  yet  learn,  whether  any  other  mea- 
sures are  likely  to  be  taken  in  this  affair,  but  I 
will  attend  to  all  motions  on  this  subject,  with 
the  watchfulness,  not  only  of  a  good  subject  of 
Great  Britain,  but  as  a  friend  to  the  colonies,  and 
of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  particular. 

14 


210 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


This  measure  of  the  Crown's  being  advised,  if 
it  think  proper,  to  act  upon  the  35th  of  Henry  the 
8th,  altho'  I  think  it  is  not  meant  to  be,  or  ever 
will  be,  carried  into  execution,  yet  deserves  some 
very  serious  cqnsideration  to  guard  against  the 
ill  use  that  might  be  made  of  it;  — as  for 
instance  —  by  this  measure  any  servant  of  the 
Crown  may  be  directed  to  inquire  after  and  re- 
port any  matters  of  treason;^ or  misprision  of  trea- 
son, upon  which  report  the  persons  thus  charged 
or  informed  against,  may  be  taken  into  custody, 
brought  prisoners  to  England,  etc.,  etc. 

Now,  as  some  check  upon  this  power  of  infor- 
mation seems  extremely  necessary,  to  prevent  its 
being  wantonly,  maliciously,  or  falsely  made  i^e 
of,  I  have  under  contemplation  the  bringing  for" 
ward,  and  applying  to  the  present  case,  the  two 
following  old  statutes,  which  appear  to  me  to  be 
at  present  in  force,  and  require  only  such  altera- 
tions and  amendments  as  may  suit  them  to  the 
present  occasion.  The  statutes  are  the  18th  of 
37th  Edward  3rd,  and  the  9th  of  38th  Edward 
3rd. ;  the  nature  of  which  measure  of  mine,  you 
will  better  see  by  referring  to  the  statutes  at  large, 
than  by  any  explanation  I  can  give  you  by  letter. 

As  I  do  really  think  that  a  repeal  of  the  late  rev- 
enue laws,  if  taken  up  upon  commercial  grounds, 
in  consequence  of  petitions,  formed  upon  those 
grounds  only,  coming  from  the  colonies,  would  be 
the  first  step  to,  and  the  surest  ground  upon  which 


JUNIUS  DI8C0VERBD. 


211 


a  reconciliation  and  good  understanding  between 
this  country  and  the  colonies,  might  be  estab- 
lished ;  and  as  by  this  time  the  people  of  Amer- 
ica cannot  be  at  a  loss  how  to  frame  such  peti- 
tions, if  they  think  proper,  so  as  to  avoid  any  of 
those  objections,  or  obstructions  that  they  might 
meet  with  from  the  repugnant  views  of  different 
parties,  I  wish  something  in  this  way  could  be 
attempted,  because  I  am  convinced  if  this  step 
were  once  taken,  we  should  not  find  it  a  difficult 
matter  to  get  back  to  the  old  safe,  and  well  un- 
derstood ground,  on  which  the  administration  of 
American  matters  hath  been  conducted  until 
these  few  years. 

On  this  head  I  have  had  in  contemplation,  the 
making  a  draught  of  such  a  petition,  framed  upon 
such  general  principles,  and  in  such  general  terms, 
as,  from  my  idea  of  the  people  of  the  colonies,  I 
do  apprehend,  consistent  with  their  opinions,  they 
might  adopt ;  and  such  as  I  should  upon  consul- 
tation have  reason  to  think  Government  here 
would  not  reject,  if  petitions  so  drawn  were  to 
come.  But  as  your  Assembly  is  not  likely  to 
meet  till  May,  there  is  time  enough  for  the  fur- 
ther consideration  of  this ;  and  indeed,  matters  do 
not  seem  as  yet  to  be  quite  ripe  for  it.  In  the  mean 
time,  there  is  no  wisdom  or  safety,  but  in  peace, 
and  in  the  submission  of  the  subordinate  to  the 
supreme.  Sat  sapienti  dictum — for  if  I  were  to 
use  all  the  words  and  expressions  which  language 


m 


JUNIUS  DIBOOVBRED. 


can  give,  I  could  not  give  my  advice  in  tenns 
that  would  convey  it  more  properly. 

Permit  me  to  repeat  a.  caution  necessary  for 
myself,  that  what  I  write  in  a  private  and  confi- 
dential manner  to  you,  should  be  particularly 
guarded  against  any  public  use  being  made  of 
it ;  which  is  a  caution  I  have  very  strictly  ob- 
served respecting  your  letters  to  me ;  —  and,  let 
me  add,  that  notwithstanding  all  the  good  inten- 
tions of  two  persons  corresponding  with  each 
other,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  promoting  the  mu- 
tual good  of  the  mother-country  and  her  colonies, 
as  founded  in  their  union  upon  principles  of  law 
and  the  constitution,  —  that  notwithstanding  ev- 
ery precaution  such  persons  may  use  not  to 
offend,  either  against  the  laws  or  the  government 
of  the  supreme  power,  yet  the  unguarded  and 
confidential  expressions  which  persons  are  open 
to,  in  their  friendly  communications,  are  not  only 
liable  to  be  misunderstood,  but  to  be  misrepre- 
sented, if  such  correspondence  should  fall  into 
the  hands  of  those  who  are  either  willing,  or 
whose  interest  it  is,  to  misrepresent  them:  —  to 
prevent  therefore,  beyond  all  doubt,  all  such  let- 
ters asf  you  may  write  to  me  from  falling'  into  such 
hands,  you  must  take  care  they  never  come  in 
any  other  channel  than  [one]  thro'  which  iihey 
will  be  delivered  directly  into  my  own  hands.  I 
cannot  by  letter  tell  you  why  this  caution  is  ne- 
cessary, but —  it  is  necessary;  and  you  may  sug- 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


213 


gest  the  same  to  any  of  our  friends  who  may  have 
occasion  to  write  to  me. 

I  hope  this  will  find  you  and  all  our  friends 
well,  to  whom  I  beg  my  best  respects  — 

I  am,  with  greatest  esteem,  and  most  sincere 
regard,        Dear  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend,  and  faithful 

T.    POWNALL. 

To  the  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper. 

I  did  niean  by  this  conveyance  to  have  sent  you 
my  speech ;  —  should  the  ship  not  sail  for  two  or 
three  days,  you  shall  have  it. 


LETTER  III. 


II 


London,  Albemarle  street,  Feb.  25,  '69. 

Dear  Sir  :  —  The  passing  of  the  measure  con- 
tained in  the  resolutions  and  address,  has  given 
occasion  to  various  speculations  in  every  party 
amongsit  our  various  factions,  considering  what 
ground  it  may  best  afford  to  their  own  respective 
plans  of  measures.  I,  who  profess  to  be,  and  am 
determined  to  remain, — a  single  —  unconnected 
individual,  and  to  belong  to  none  of  these  fac- 
tions—  none  of  those  vortices  which  form  the 
chaos  of  our  present  politics,  have  had  in  contem- 


814 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


plation  the  effect  that  this  measure  hath  immedi' 
ately^  and  the  consequence  that  it  must  draw  after 
it  infuturo.  I  consider  that  it  hath  drawn  into 
question,  whether  those  rights  and  privileges, 
which  the  Petition  of  rights  in  1628  —  the  act  for 
abolishing  the  Star  Chamber  —  the  Habeas  Cor- 
pus act  —  the  Bill  of  rights  —  have  declared  to 
be  the  undoubted  rights  of  the  British  subject  of 
this  realm  and  Kingdom  —  do  extend,  or  do  not 
extend  to  the  colonies.  If  royal  charters,  and  the 
royal  assent  to  provincial  laws,  cannot  extend 
them  otherwise  than  as  [they  are]  extended  by 
the  law  of  the  British  parliament  (and  yet  par- 
liament hath  not  extended  them),  I  am  totally  at 
a  loss,  and  without  my  compass,  as  to  any  one 
cardinal  point  in  my  plan  of  Liberty.  I  have 
therefore  had  it  in  contemplation  to  contrive  to 
bring  forward  in  parliament  some  motion  which 
may  call  forth  the  consideration  of  this  matter, 
[in  order]  that  (even  if  the  House  should  not 
choose  to  do  any  thing  direct  and  express  on  the 
point,  which  I  think  they  will  avoid),  we  at  least 
may  feel  the  sense  of  it ;  and  for  that  purpose  to 
make  a  motion  for  leave  to  bring  in  a  bill,  as  a 
kind  of  bill  of  rights,  for  extending  those  statutes 
to  his  Majesty^s  dominions  in  America.  This  is 
in  itself  attended  with  many  difficulties  and  some 
dangers.  But  the  difficulties  I  meet  with,  are 
the  way  and  means  to  accommodate  my  measure 
so  to  the  respective  views  and  schemes  of  the 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


215 


1 1 


several  parties  of  men,  all  differing  with  one  an- 
other, as  to  get  them  to  join  me,  if  it  were  only 
so  far  as  to  get  a  debate  upon  it,  that  the  House 
may  at  least  be  apprised  of  the  state  of  the  case^ 
and  not  go  on  blindfold.  To  explain  to  you 
these  difficulties,  I  must  develop  the  several  real 
views  of  all  these  several  parties,  which  the  com- 
pass of  a  letter  would  not  permit ;  nor  would  it 
be  safe,  as  ani/  such  explanation  would  be  disa- 
vowed and  contradicted.  The  ostensible  declar- 
ations are  what  all  justify  themselves  upon,  while 
the  real  esoteric  springs  are  what  give  motion 
and  direction  to  every  step  taken.     However,  I 

am  to  have  a  conversation  with   Mr.  Y ke 

next  week,  to  whom  I  shall  state  the  whole  case^ 
in  order  to  establish  the  necessity  of  something 
being  done. 

In  the  mean  time,  upon  the  House  going  into 
Committee  last  night,  upon  the  nullum  tempus 
bill,  for  quieting  grantees  against  claims  of  the 
Crown,  I  moved  for  an  instruction  to  the  Com- 
mittee, for  extending  the  provisions  of  this  bill  to 
America.  I  did  it  more  to  open  the  ground  on 
the  doctrine  of  acts  extendinff^  or  not,  than  in 
hopes  of  obtaining  it.  The  bill  is  passed  without 
naming  America,  and  it  was  (though  no  vote  was 
come  to  on  the  point)  the  general  sense  of  gen- 
tlemen—  that  it  does  not  extend;  —  so  now  I 
have  got  my  ground  whereon  to  state  my  doubts 
of  the  danger  of  this  doctrine,  and  shall  take  the 


^  i.ir 


.i>»^ 


f>Haf^!Uwiit-r' 


216 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


first  opportunity  of  doing  it.  The  question  was 
new,  even  to  our  lawyers ;  and  one  of  the  very 
first  of  these  told  me,  it  was  of  that  magnitude  he 
would  hope  for  time  to  consider  it,  before  I  should 
bring  it  on. 

The  messenger  who  is  to  carry  my  letter  to  the 
ship  tells  me  I  shall  be  too  late,  —  so,  God  bless 
you  —  I  am  your  affect'e 

and  real  friend, 

T.  P.' 

I  have  not  even  time  to  read  my  letter  over,  so 
yon  must  correct  my  pen.  I  am  advised  by  all 
parties,  not  to  bring  forward  any  motion  on  the 
statutes  of  the  37  and  38  of  Ed.  3rd. 


LETTER  IV. 


London,  19  March,  1769. 

Deajr  Sir:  —  As  I  did  not  care  to  mix  any 
thing  in  my  letter  of  this  day  foreign  to  the  pur- 
pose of  it,  I  trouble  you  with  this  additional  one, 
on  two  or  three  points  which  I  have  touched  upon 
in  my  former  letters. 

The  measure  of  extending,  with  amendments, 
the  two  old  acts  of  Edward  3rd  to  America, 
which  I  told  you  I  had  in  contemplation,  has 
been  entirely  laid  aside,  upon  this  prudential  rea- 
son,—  that  the  following  the   example  set  by 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


217 


Government,  of  reviving  old  laws,  in  order  to  ex- 
tend the  purport  of  them  to  America,  although 
meant  to  carry  the  antidote  as  well  as  the  poison, 
might  yet  lead  to.  dangerous  consequences. 

I  had  mentioned  to  you  another  measure,  which 
I  and  some  friends  had  in  contemplation ;  but  as 
it  depends  on  a  question  of  such  magnitude,  both 
in  the  matter  and  the  consequences  of  it,  and  as 
some  of  our  first  lawyers  have  declared  themselves 
not  fully  masters  of  it,  but  that  they  wish  further 
time  to  consider  it,  it  has  been  upon  every  account 
thought  best  to  defer  it  over  to  the  next  session. 

As  to  the  matter  of  the  repeal  of  the  late  reve- 
nue laws,  the  agents  have  had  it  under  consider- 
ation, whether  or  not  they  should  present  a  peti- 
tion for  that  purpose,  and  have  finally  determined 
not  to  do  it,  finding  no  encouragement,  at  this 
time,  from  any  set  or  party  of  men,  to  that  end. 
I  do  not  believe  that  it  can  be  brought  on  directly 
in  this  session,  in  any  shape  whatsoever.  How- 
ever, Mr.  Fuller  and  I  have  it  under  considera- 
tion, whether  something  in  part  may  not  be  done 
on  this  subject ;  but  as  the  parliament  is  to  rise 
so  early  this  year,  I  much  doubt  whether  it  will 
be  possible  to  bring  any  thing  forward  on  this 
subject,  and  therefore  can  give  you  no  hopes 
about  it.  I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

T.    POWNALL. 

The  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper. 


218 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


LETTER  V. 


35  Letters  in  all  to  Dr.  Cooper,  and ) 
1  Letter  to  Samuel  Adams.  ) 

LoNDOx,  Albemarle  street,  March  22,  '69. 

,     (Most  private.)  1 

Dear  Sir  :  —  My  letters  which  accompany  this, 
I  mean  not  only  for  your  own  information,  but 
for  any  use,  or  any  good  purpose  which  they  can 
be  applied  to ;  and  if  you  can  conveniently,  or 
any  way  properly  do  it,  I  should  not  be  sorry  that 
the  one  concerning  the  quartering  bill,  with  its 
enclosures,  was  communicated  to  those  of  New 
York  with  whom  you  or  your  friends  communi- 
cate. 

That  the  principle  upon  which  this  bill  goes, 
should  be  received  by  the  House,  and  with  such 
general  approbation,  —  that  part  of  the  ministry. 
Lord  Barrington,  the  Secretary  at  War,  should 
join  me  in  it,  —  and  that  the  rest  of  the  ministry 
should  not  oppose  it,  but  let  it  pass,  is  a  symptom 
of  better  temper  than  one  could  have  expected  in 
the  same  session  in  which  those  resolutions  against 
our  Province  passed,  —  is  a  symptom  that  I  hope 
the  colonists  will  avail  themselves  of,  and  profit 
of.     They  gain  ground  by  it ;  —  that  they  ought 

1  Several  of  the  letters  of  Junius  to  Woodfall,  are  marked 
"Private,"  and  the  postscript  to  No.  40  (v.  i.  228),  "  Secret"  — 
while  hi3  letter  to  Lord  Chatham,  of  Jan.  14, 1772,  first  published 
in  The  Chatham  Correspondence,  is  marked  "Most  secret." — F.  G. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


219 


to  take  post  upon,  and  make  their  own ;  —  it  is  in 
their  power,  if  heaven  does  not  mean  otherwise. 
I  dare  say  many  letters  will  mention  a  clause 
which  Lord  Barrington  opened  to  the  House,  as 
intending  to  offer  it,  but  which  he  withdrew. 
Whatever  there  might  have  been  wrong  in  it,  he 
is  not  hostile  to  the  colonies.  I  owe  my  success, 
in  getting  the  present  quartering  bill  accepted,  to 
his  candour  on  this  subject ;  for  if  it  had  been 
opposed  by  the  Secretary  at  War,  ministry  and 
the  majority  would  not  have  let  it  pass.  Besides, 
he  not  only  avowed  the  principle  of  letting  the 
colonies  act  as  to  mode  of  doing  in  this  case,  but 
said  —  he  liked  it  best,  and  hoped  one  day  to  see 
this  principle  adopted  in  the  case  of  taxation  also. 
But  there  are  many  people  who  have  no  other 
way  of  making  themselves  appear  to  be  your 
friends,  and  at  the  same  time  of  pointing  out  the 
benefit  and  necessity  of  their  friendship  and  ser- 
vices, but  by  telling  you  what  enemies  you  have^ 
and  how  they  are  active  to  counteract  them. 
This  is  almost  the  whole  craft  of  Agents,  or  those 
who  wish  to  be  so  —  to  set  you,  and  keep  you  at 
variance  with  many  persons  well  disposed  to  you, 
and  who  would  be  your  friends.  In  short,  I  am  of 
opinion  with  Dr.  Franklin,  —  I  do  not  see  what 
good  any  agent  can  do  as  matters  now  stand ; 
[but]  I  do  see  how  often,  and  how  much  they 
may  injure  you,  and  your  cause.  I  do  think  they 
are  a  needless  expense,  and  a  dangerous  Trust 


220 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


I  dare  say  you  wonder  that  I.have  never  given 
you  any  account  of  our  system  of  politics  here, 
or  what  it  is  we  mean,  or  what  we  would  or  do 
intend  to  do.  You  might  as  well  expect,  that  if 
I  was  shown  Des  Cartes'  chaos  of  vortices,  I 
should  tell  you  what  worlds,  and  what  kind  of 
system  that  would  produce  in  the  fortuitous  con- 
course and  collision  of  vortices.  We  have  neither 
knowledge,  nor  system,  nor  principle ;  we  have 
but  one  word  (I  will  not  call  it  an  idea),  that  is 
—  our  sovereignty ;  and  it  is  like  some  word  to  a 
madman,  which,  whenever  mentioned,  throws  him 
into  his  ravings,  and  brings  on  a  paroxysm.  But 
the  less  prudent  we  are  here,  the  more  it  becomes 
you  to  be  so,  on  your  side  the  water.  For,  be- 
lieve me,  there  are  yet  many  good  men,  who  be- 
long to  none  of  the  factions,  who  are  serious  and 
grieved,  and  who  will  -^  (if  it  be  not  the  pleasure 
of  the  Supreme  God  to  put  an  end  to  us,)  —  who 
will,  I  repeat  it,  get  more  and  more  into  lead  on 
these  matters.  The  still  voice  will  be  heard  at 
last  —  I  hope  it  will  [not]  be  too  late  first. 

I  have  not  had  a  letter  from  you  this  age,  —  I 
hope  none  have  miscarried.  I  hope,  if  you  have 
written,  that  you  observed  the  caution  I  gave  you, 
of  giving  your  letters  to  those  who  would  deliver 
them  to  my  own  hands,  and  not  put  them  into 
any  post  whatever.  Under  this  precaution^  pray 
let  me  hear  from  you,  and  write  as  I  do  —  pour- 
ing out  all  my  heart.     I  beg  my  respects  to  all 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


221 


firiendS)  —  to  those  especially  who  are  nearest  and 
dearest  to  you. 

I  am,  in  every  sense  of  affection  and  esteem, 
Your  friend, 

T.    POWNALL. 

If  any  reports  or  letters  should  raise  an  alarm, 
as  if  there  was  any  design  here  to  make  any 
change  jn  your  charter,  believe  it  not.  —  It  will 
never  take  place  here,  whatever  people  elsewhere 
may  imagine:  attacks  of  that  kind  are  steps 
which  ministers  do  not  wantonly  hazard. 


LETTER  VI. 


London,  April  27, 1769. 
(Private.) 

Dear  Sir  :  —  Finding  the  vessel  did  not  sail 
this  morning,  and  that  I  have  a  safe  opportunity 
of  conveyance  to  you,  I  add  this  most  private  and 
confidential  letter  to  you. 

First,  as  to  our  correspondence: — Although 
in  point  of  safety  and  honour  there  is  not  a  word 
which  passes  between  us  which  might  not  be 
read  in  the  market-place,  yet  in  point  of  prudence 
many  things  may  pass  in  the  confidence  of  two 
friends,  which  may  do  more  harm  than  good,  if 
publicly  known  without  that  reference  to  the  pur- 


222 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


port  and  end  of  them,  which,  in  private  corres- 
pondences, people  never  have  occasion  to  refer 
to.  On  this  head,  I  must  repeat  my  caution  to 
you,  both  as  to  what  I  write  to  you,  as  well  as  to 
what  you  write  to  me  —  we  cannot  take  too  much 
care.  My  correspondence,  by  some  means  or 
other,  by  extracts,  copies  from  memory,  or  per^ 
haps  by  the  originals  having  gone  through  bad 
hands  before  they  arrived  at  you,  has  been  known 
to  Ministry,  and  they  have  told  the  King,  that  I 
correspond  with  the  Sons  of  Liberty.  Having 
heard  this,  I  took  occasion  to  tell  them,  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  that  I  did  so  correspond, 
and  would  continue  to  do  so ;  and  I  have  since 
let  them  know,  that  if  they  will  be  at  the  trouble 
of  copying  my  letters,  they  should  have  copies  of 
all  that  I  have  sent,  —  and,  to  save  them  the  trou- 
ble of  that  infamous  breach  of  trust  by  which 
they  get  at  private  correspondence,  I  would,  if 
they  desired  it,  send  them  copies  of  all  that  I 
shall  write  to  America  for  the  future.  I  am  sure 
if  I  could  hope  they  would  fairly  carry  them  to 
the  King,  I  would  write  all  I  think,  and  spare 
not,  —  by  which,  I  will  be  proud  to  say,  he  would 
have  a  fairer  state  of  the  business,  and  better  ad- 
vice in  it,  than  any  he  gets  now.^  However,  you 
cannot  be  [too]  cautious  about  showing  my  let- 


1  May  we  not  here  detect  the  embryo  idea  of  Junius's  celebrated 
letter  to  the  King,  published  on  the  19th  of  the  following  Decem- 
ber?—F.  G. 


JtJimrS  DISCOVERED. 


223 


ters,  whatever  use  you  make  of  the  contents  of 
them,  as  it  is  not  any  thing  I  have  to  apprehend 
from  my  letters,  but  from  false  and  misrepresented 
accounts  of  them.  In  like  manner,  never  send 
me  any  letter  wherein  you  wish  to  have  the  same 
caution  observed,  unless  you  can  send  it  by  some 
person,  who  will  deliver  it  with  his  own  hands. 
Your's  of  Feb.  18, 1  received  on  the  15th  instant : 
—  enclosed  I  send  you  the  seal,  with  which  it 
came  sealed  to  me.     You'll  know  if  it  be  your's. 

You  Americans  will  not  want  to  be  told  at 
this  time  that  every  thing  here  is  Party .^  Nor  can 
the  Americans  be  at  a  loss  to  feel,  if  they  do  not 
,  see,  how  their  interest  in  this  country  depends 
upon,  and  is  affected,  by  the  views  and  interests 
of  such  parties  here,  so  far  as  it  is  to  depend  upon, 
and  be  affected  by  any  movements  that  can  be 
set  a  going  here.  If  your  affairs  cannot  come 
forward  on  their  own  ground,  and  be  led  by  a  na- 
tional spirit,  what  interest — what  safety  can  you 
have  in  negotiating,  or  in  seeking  any  connection 
with  any  of  our  parties  here  J  —  Nor  will  you  re- 
ceive any  aid  from  any  Bodies  of  Men  w^hatever ; 
for,  while  you  are  labouring  to  relieve  yourselves 
from  one  burden,  you  must  of  course  become 
second  and  subordinate  to  such  parties,  instead 
of  the  whole. 

As  you  may  expect  still  less  aid  from  Minis- 


1 "  You  Barristers  are  too  apt  to  be  civU,  etc." — Junius,  letter 
Ixiii.  v.  ii.  389. 


224 


JUNIUS  DISOOVEHSD. 


ters,  80  is  the  danger  much  greater  of  any  appli- 
cations to,  or  negotiations  with  them. 

Towards  Government  itself,  you  cannot  ob- 
serve too  guarded  an  obedience.  On  the  other 
hand,  I  can  see  no  use,  and  if  no  use,  I  see  no 
wisdom  —  perhaps  there  may  be  danger  —  in  pe- 
titioning for  a  repeal,  or  in  any  correspondence 
or  negotiation  whatever,  between  the  people  and 
government :  —  leave  that  to  the  Crown  and  its 
ministers  here,  with  its  servants,  etc.,  on  your  side 
the  water.  What  have  you  to  do,  but  to  be,  and 
to  continue,  good  subjects,  and  doing  your  duty, 
according  to  law  and  your  constitutions ;  —  and 
—  let  government  do  as  it  pleases,  till  it  finds  its 
own  interest  in  adopting  and  promoting  yours. 

In  matters  oi politics,  as  well  as  of  asconomy  ^  and 
supply,  the  old  stoic  adage  should  be  the  motto 
and  the  maxim  of  the  colonies : — nete  qucesiveris 
extrd. 

Upon  the  whole  of  the  above,  I  own  I  am  con- 
firmed in  my  opinion  —  that  the  Colonies  should 
not  have  any  agents  here  for  the  purpose  of  ap- 
plication or  negotiation ;  and  that  in  these  times 
of  difficulty,  no  agent  should  be  furnished  by  you 
with  any  powers  which  may  conclude  you.  As 
I  see  no  prudence,  so  I  see  no  great  safety  in  this. 
People  with  such  characters  are  too  apt  to  convert 


1  In  the  original  edition  of  the  letters  of  Junius,  the  first  letter 
in  this  word  is  invariably  the  diphthong  ce.  And  the  same  remark 
applies  to  the  Governor's  printed  works. — F.  G. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


225 


their  powers  to  their  own  importance,  and  their 
own  interest.  These  powers  are  apt  to  make  such 
people  better  worth  purchasing  who  can  sell  others* 
I  speak  this  of  the  general  course  of  human  nature, 
and  do  not  mean  any  reference  to  any  particulars. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  the  people  of  the  Colonies 
fixed  on  some  particular  friend  or  patron,  with 
whom  they  might  correspond,  who  might  send 
them  every  necessary  intelligence,  and  might  in 
the  mean  time  be  watchful  for  their  interest  in 
general^  and  interpose  and  act  for  it  in  particular\ 
either  1st  in  Council,  or  2ndly  in  Parliament,  or 
3rdly  who  might  be  empowered,  if  any,  matters 
arose  which  should  have  any  tendency  to  bring 
their  interests  and  concerns  into  the  judicial 
courts,  to  appoint  an  Attorney  or  Solicitor,  and 
to  employ  lawyers  from  time  to  time  as  the  cases 
might  require,  I  think  all  that  the  people  have  to 
do  in  appointing  agents  would  be  answered.  I 
will  close  my  advice  with  a  [passage]  from  Stru- 
vius's  Htstoria  Juris,  where  —  speaking  of  the 
Roman  colonies  —  he  says,  Habebant  istee  ex  il- 
lustribus  Romanis  suos  patronos,  ex  institute 
Romuli,  qui  causam  illorum  in  senatu  agerent,  — 
and  it  would  always  be  the  interest  of  the  people 
of  the  colonies,  to  take  care  that  such,  their  pa* 
tron,  had  a  seat  in  parliament,  and  was  no  place- 
man. 

Secret  as  all  the  above  is,  and  should  be,  I 

15 


226 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


leave  it  to  your  pradence,  as  to  the  use  you'll 
make  of  it,  and  am, 

Your  most  affectionate  friend, 
and  faithful 

T.    POWNALL. 


LETTER  VII. 


(t  Albemarle  street,  London,  May  9,  '69. 

Dear  Sir  :  —  Yesterday  our  session  closed, 
and  enclosed  you  have  the  King's  speech. 

The  two  points  relating  to  America  are  —  ex- 
pressing satisfaction  that  Parliament  approves 
the  measures  which  ministry  took  in  the  Boston 
expedition,  and  in  the  assurances  of  support  in 
the  prosecution  of  those  measures. 

In  the  first  place,  it  does  not  appear  that  any 
further  steps  are  to  be  taken  in  that  line. 

You  will  observe  still  that  it  is  a  settled  mode 
of  speech  with  ministry,  in  the  face  of  day,  to 
call  the  opposition  in  America,  in  which  the 
whole  are  united,  the  designs  of  a  few  Factious 
<ind  Seditions  ;  and  that  the  whole  drift  of  minis- 
try is  to  divide  you  amongst  yourselves,  by  driv- 
ing some  into  desperation,  and  betraying  others 
into  a  betraying  of  their  oivn  nest,  into  two  par- 
ties, —  the  Seditious^  and  the  well-disposed^  —  to 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


987 


give  strength  and  lead  to  the  latter,  by  holding 
out  every  idea  of  support  of  the  highest  kind  to 
the  whole,  and  of  reward  to  particulars  who  can 
succeed  to  lead  the  whole  under  their  lead. 

The  desire^  thrown  out  by  way  of  bait,  is,  that 
the  Americans  may  be  persuaded  to  take  the 
ground  which  ministry  are,  I  understand,  nego- 
tiating, both  with  those  who  they  think  can  take 
a  lead  amongst  you,  on  your  side  the  water,  and 
with  those  who  they  think  have  a  lead  and  influ- 
ence with  you  from  hence,  and  which  they  want 
to  stand  on.  They  see  the  tide  is  turning.  The 
experiment  which  I  made,  by  moving  for  the  re- 
peal of  the  revenue  law,  showed  that,  —  [and] 
that  the  people  of  England  are  determined  to 
make  it  up  with  their  American  brethren,  —  and 
so  ministry,  as  well  as  other  parties ,  want  to  make 
a  merit  of  it. 

K  this  matter  should  get  into  any  wrong  chan- 
nel, or  be  conducted  upon  any  ground  but  its  own 
ground,  some  old  party  amongst  yourselves,  or 
some  party  here,  who  will  make  a  property  of 
you,  will  get  the  lead  of  your  affair Sj  both  here 
and  in  your  own  country. 

Sir  Francis  Bernard  is  recalled,  and  is  to  be 
provided  for  here.  Mr.  Hutchinson  is  to  officiate 
as  Commander-in-Chief  for  some  time,  and  if 
matters  succeed,  will  perhaps  succeed  as  Gov- 
ernor. 

Your  situation  grows  every  [day]  more  and 


228 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


more  critical ;  —  I  say  critical  and  do  not  mean 
dangerous,  —  and  therefore,  caution  and  v;atch- 
fulness  are  all  that  is  necessary  —  but  these  are 
necessary. 

I  do  not  care  to  hazard  my  opinion  as  to  the 
conduct  to  be  observed  by  America  towards  the 
British  merchants,  nor  as  to  the  conduct  to  be 
expected  of  them.  Dr.  Franklyn  and  I  are  of  one 
opinion.  He  talks  of  coming  over  to  America 
this  year.  Words  will  better  explain  that  subject 
than  writing  can. 

;,  I  find  my  youngest  brother,  Edward,  who  is  a 
captain  in  the  34th  regiment,  means  tp  sell  out, 
and  settle  in  America.  I  highly  approve  a  de- 
sign which  I  should  myself  put  in  execution,  as 
Boon  as  I  could  dispose  of  my  estate  here,  if  I 
were  in  a  situation  in  life  which  left  me  to  my 
own  liberty  on  this  head.^ 

My  son-in-law,  Capt.  Fawkener,^  who  has  been 
in  Corsica,  and  lived  some  time  with  Paoli,  in 
the  strictest  confidence  and  friendship,  and  who 
is  in  a  mof ':  unreserved  correspondence  with  him, 
and  who  is  a  perfect  fanatic  in  the  cause  of  lib- 
erty, means  to  make  the  tour  of  America  this 


^  Junius's  (Misc.)  letter,  intimating  that  he  had  sold  out  of  the 
funds,  and  vested  the  proceeds  in  retJ  estate,  was  dated  19th  Au- 
gust, 1768.— F.  G.  t 

*  Gov*  P.  married  Lady  Fawkener  on  the  3rd  of  August,  1765, 
and  Captain  F.  was  her  son  by  her  first  husband.  The  Captain 
was  therefore  the  Governor's  step-son,  not  his  son-in-law.  The 
same  error  is  to  be  found  in  the  Governor's  will. — F.  G. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


229 


il 


year  or  next ; — when  he  does  I  shall  particularly 
recommend  him  to  you.  If  Lady  Fawkener 
could  bring  herself  to  consent  to  my  coming  over 
for  six  or  eight  months,  I  would  come  with  him 
myself ;  —  I  most  earnestly  desire  it.  I  have  many 
things  to  say  which  there  is  no  writing ;  besides, 
I  want  to  lay  in  a  root  for  my  own  settling 
amongst  you,  which  I  am  most  seriously  and  re- 
ligiously determined  to  do,  if  any  stroke  of  Prov- 
idence should  dissolve  me  from  the  only  tie  which 
keeps  me  here. 

I  beg  my  most  sincere  respects  to  all  my 
friends,  and  am,  in  every  sense  of  regard  and  af- 


fection, 


Your  friend. 


T.    POWNALL. 


11th.  —  P.  S.  —  If  there  be  any  truth  in  what 
is  given  out,  that  ministry  mean  this  summer  to 
form  a  system  for  the  government  and  adminis- 
tration of  American  affairs,  and  to  revise  all  the 
laws,  charters,  etc.,  etc.,  your  having  some  agent 
of  weight  and  knowledge  for  the  purpose  will  be 
necessary;  —  but  his  powers  should  be  well 
guarded,  and  he  —  thoroughly  instructed,  both 
with  ostensible  and  private  instructions. 


330 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


LETTER  VIII. 


London,  May  25,  *69. 
Dear  Sir  :  —  Since  my  having  written  to  you 
at  the  rising  of  Parliament,  and  stated  fully  to 
you  my  opinion  of  the  state  of  things,  and  what  I 
think  ought  to  be  the  conduct  of  those  in  Amer- 
ica who  would  guard  its  interest  against  any  sur- 
prise, one  of  the  steps  which  I  did  apprehend 
they  would  have  to  guard  against,  has  been  taken 
by  ministry. 

[  The  remainder  of  this  letter  being"  transcribed^ 
with  some  variations  of  expression^  and  additions, 
into  one  apparently  written  a  few  days  laf^r,  but 
without  a  daie^  (and  which  in  the  binding  has 
been  misplaced  after  a  letter  dated  "  April  10, 
'72,")  we  take  up  the  latter,  the  fourth  paragraph 
in  which,  beginning  "  Although  our  Ministers, 
etc.^^  indicates  where  the  remainder  of  this  one 
begins.  This  letter  bears  no  signature,  but  merely 
a .] 


Dear  Sir:  —  I  had  your  letter  by  Capt.  Scott, 
who  delivered  it  to  me  himself.  I  am  much 
obliged  to  you  for  your  free,  fair  and  candid  com- 
munications. 

I  wish  for  nothing  but  to  serve  the  Province, 
and  io  be  in  that  situation  in  which  I  could  most 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


2ai 


serve  it  as  Governor.  Under  the  present  spirit 
of  politicks  I  could  do  no  good  to  you,  but  must 
certainly  render  myself  useless.  Although  I  am 
here  set  down,  and  settled  for  life,  in  a  situation 
which  no  interest  could  tempt  me  to  relinquish, 
yet  if  Government  here  would  let  me  undertake 
the  reconciliation  of  matters  on  my  own  plan,  by 
ascertaining  the  rights  of  the  colonies,  and  fixing 
the  system  for  the  administration  of  their  affairs 
on  the  true  ofd  around,  and  leave  me  to  take  my 
own  way  of  il  *:,  I  would  chearfuUy,^  in  any 

character,  devo  c,  few  years  to  it,  and  should 
bless  my  own  heart  in  the  attempt,  whatever 
might  be  the  success.  But  that  time  is  past ;  — 
you  are  destined  to  be  the  sport  of  parties,  a& 
Ireland  is.  You  will,  I  see  it  clearly,  be  turned 
over  from  one  faction  to  another,  and  will  ever 
lose  as  much  as  you  can  get  by  every  turn. 

My  last  letter  to  you  was  on  the  subject  of  the 
repeal  of  the  revenue  act,  —  lest  my  letter  should 
have  miscarried,  I  will  transcribe  it. 

Although  our  ministers,  who  may  be  safely  said 
to  advise,  if  not  to  make  the  King's  speech,  thun- 
dered out  anathemas  at  the  opening  of  the  last 

sessions,  —  although  the  two  H s  of  P 1 

have,  to  the  King's  and  ministers'  intire  satisfac- 
tion, been  very  angry  in  words  and  resolutions,  -^ 

1  ChearfuUy  —  So  Junius  wrote  the  word,  invariaWy,  in  his 
original  edition.  In  G.  Woodfall's  editions,  it  has,  with  two  or 
three  exceptions,  been  corrected  to  cheerfully. — F.  G. 


!^32 


JUNIUS  DISCOYERED. 


and  although  neither  ministers  would  hear,  nor 
the  H.  of  C.  scarce  listen  to  the  proposal  of  a  re- 
peal of  the  revenue  act,  as  I  moved  it,  —  and 
although  the  ostensible  reason  given  was  the  un- 
seasonableness  of  the  time,  yet  a  very  few  days 
after  Parliament  was  prorogued,  the  Cabinet  took 
up  the  resolution  of  circulating  to  all  the  Gover- 
nors and  people  in  America,  that  the  ministry  do 
intend  to  bring  forward  the  repeal  next  sessions. 
Upon  which  I  observe,  that  the  unseasonableness 
of  the  time  was  not  the  true  and  real  reason  why 
my  motion  was  not  accepted.  No !  —  The  true 
reason  is,  they  did  not  like  the  fair  ground  which 
I  took  for  it.  They  do  not  like  to  give  up  the 
maxim  —  that  Government  here^  and  from  hence, 
should  raise  a  revenue  for  the  support  of  civil 
government,  independent  of  the  people  there. 
They  do  not  mean  a  general  repeal  of  the  act— 

whose  principles, 
purposes, 
and  means  —  are  the  griev- 
ances complained  of.     They  mean  only  to  take 
off  some  of  the  duties  which  have  raised  little 
or  nothing,  viz.,  those  on  paper,  glass,  and  paint- 
ers' colours,  in  order  to  please  the  merchants  here, 
and  to  discourage  amongst  you  any  attempts  of 
manufacturing,  or  of  abstaining  from  English  im- 
ports.    They  mean  to  divide  you  amongst  your- 
selves, and  to  give  a  lead  to  the  well-disposed. 
The    repeal    which    I  proposed  —  upon    the 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


233 


grounds  on  which  I  did  propose  it  —  would  have 
had  a  real,  political,  and  truly  commercial  effect 
The-  repeal,  as  now  held  out  as  a  favor^  will 
prove  a  Trojan  horse:  —  therefore  remember  the 
cautious,  unhappily  not  regarded  [warning?] 
which  Laocoon  gave  — 

Creditis  avectos  hostca  ?  aut  ulla  putatis 
Dona  carerc  dolis  Danafim  ?  sic  notus  Ulisses  1 
Aut  hoc  inclusi  ligno  occultantur  Achivi, 
Aut  htec  in  nostras  fabricata  est  machina  inuros, 
*  Inspectura  domos,  — 

Remember,  the  first  effect  of  that  Grecian  fa- 
vor was  to  divide.  Those  who  fainted  and  grew 
weary  of  defending  their  country,  deceived  by  the 
well-disposed,  who  pretended  to  seek  peace  and 
to  ensue  it,  were  ready  —  eager  to  accept  and 
embrace  the  offered  mischief,  and  were  for  taking 
it  into  the  very  heart  of  their  city :  — 

At  Capys,  et  quorara  melior  scntentia  menti, 
Aut  pclago  DunaOm  insidius,  suspcctaq  :  dona, 
Praecipitarc  jubent,  suhjcctisq :  urore  flammis ; 
Aut  terebrare  cavas  uteri  ct  tentare  latebras  — 

to  examine  into  the  real  —  internal  purpose  of  it 
Read  the  whole  story,  and  think  of  the  event. 
But  some  will  say  —  what  then  are  we  to  do  ?  I 
answer  —  do  nothing;  —  neither  petition  nor  ne- 
gotiate, —  neither  ask  nor  accept  favors, — neither 


*  Internal  taxes.  —  Note  by  Governor  P. 


234 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


seek  nor  be  led  into  cannections  out  of  pour  own 
boundaries  ;  —  lye  bye,  and  things  will  come  right 
of  themselves.  But  if  you  go  on  (as  I  fear  too 
many  are  deceived  and  flattered  to  think  right,) 
in  mixing  your  affairs  with  our  parties  and  fac- 
tions here,  I  must  repeat  what  I  said  at  the  be- 
ginning of  my  letter  —  you  will  for  all  time  to 
come  be  —  as  Ireland  ever  has  been  for  all  time 
past  —  the  sport  of  parties. 

[  The  above  completes  the  transcription  of  the 
former  letter.] 

As  I  wrote  to  Mr.  Hancock,  or  some  of  my 
friends  in  America,  about  two  or  three  years  ago, 
in  consequence  of  a  conversation  which  I  had 
with  the  late  Archbishop,  that  there  was  no  de- 
sign at  that  time  of  introducing  Bishops  into 
America,  I  shall  always  think  it  my  duty  to  ap- 
prize them  of  every  motion  that  hath  the  least 
tendency  that  way.  I  do  not  believe  that  there 
is  any  immediate  design  of  taking  that  measure 
up  at  this  time,  but  there  seems  to  me  something 
like  a  laying  of  ground  for  it.  The  settlement  of 
ecclesiastical  matters  in  Quebec,  the  publication 
of  the  late  Archbishop's  letter  to  the  late  Lord 
Walpole,  just  at  this  time,  has  something  singu- 
lar in  the  coincidence.  As  I  was,  in  consequence 
of  the  conversation  which  I  had  with  the  late 
Archbishop,  convinced  that  the  design  was  post- 
poned, if  not  laid  aside,  I  did  not  insert  in  ray 
Administration  of  the  Colonies,  that  part  respect- 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


235 


'  I 


ing  the  measure  of  Bishops  in  America.  I  shall 
now  think  it  my  duty  to  publish  separately  my 
sentiments  on  that  subject.  I  have  had  a  con- 
versation with  the  present  Lord  Walpole  about 
it,  and  have  desired  a  copy  of  his  father's  letter, 
to  which  this  is  said  to  be  an  answer.  He  will 
look  for  it,  and  I  fancy  will  let  me  publish  it,  to- 
gether with  mine.*  I  do  not  mean  to  take  the 
question  up  as  a  partizan,  but  to  consider  its  ef- 
fects as  to  the  purposes  of  peace  and  union  —  as 
to  the  effect  it  would  have  on  the  C/hurch  of  Eng- 
land itself — as  to  the  effect  it  will  have  in  ren- 
dering the  colonists  more  and  more  alienate. 

Enclosed  I  send  you  the  pamphlet.     I  beg  my 
respects  to  all  friends,  and  am,  dear  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  and  real  friend, 

T.    POWNALL. 


LETTER  IX. 

Albemarle  street,  London,  Sept.  25,  '69. 

Dear  Sir  :  —  I  am  now  to  acknowledge  the 
favor  of  your  several  letters 

I  found  people  in  Ireland  very  curious  after  the 
state  of  things  in  America,  and  nmch  interested 


^  The  letter  of  "  the  late  Archbishop,"  was  —  "  A  letter  to  the 
Bight  Hon.  Horace  Walpole,  Esq.,"  written  Jan'y  9,  1750-51, 


236 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


in  the  state  of  the  contest  between  Great  Britain 
and  her  colonies.  I  found  them  impressed  with 
a  fellow  feeling  for  America,  as  the  fate  of  their 
own  country,  so  far  as  it  is  one  of  the  dependen' 
cies  of  the  supreme  government,  must,  in  some 
measure,  coincide  with  that  of  America  —  so  far 
as  the  American  fate  shall  take  train  from  the  de- 
cision of  the  present  contest.  But  let  me  caution 
my  friends  of  the  colonies,  that  the  Irish  rights 
and  liberties  stand  upon  a  basis  to  which  I  hope 
never  to  see  those  of  America  narrowed.  Their 
cause  stands  upon  ground  which  I  hope  no  false 
friend  of  the  colonies  will  ever  be  able  to  deceive 
the  colonists  into  taking.  The  spirit  of  their  pol- 
iticks derives  from,  and  operates  by  motives  to 
which  corruption,  faction,  and  venality  have  [not] 
yet  reduced  those  of  America.  I  have  always 
preached  up  to  my  American  friends  the  danger 
of  alliances,  —  and  here  my  caution  is  more  and 
more  necessary.  However,  you  will  be  right  to 
profit  of  every  assistance ;  but,  take  it  as  assist- 


conceming  Bishops  in  America,  by  Thomas  Seeker,  LL.  D. 
who  was  confirmed  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  in  April,  1758, 
and  died  Aug.  3, 1 768.  Mr.  Walpole  was  afterwards  created  Lord 
Walpolc,  of  Woolterton,  in  Norfolk,  and  died  Feb.  5,  1757,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Horatio,  the  above  mentioned 
"  present  Lord  Walpole,"  —  (who,  by  the  bye,  was  son-in-law  of 
the  Duke  of  Devonshire.  "  I  shall  be  glad,"  says  Junius  to  Wood- 
fall,  Oct.  .•>,  1769,  "  to  see  the  pacquet  you  speak  of.  It  cannot 
come  from  the  Cavendishes,  though  there  be  no  end  of  the  family. 
They  would  not  be  so  silly  as  to  put  their  arms  on  the  cover.") 
V.  i.  200.— F  G. 


JtTNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


237 


Britain 
d  with 
)f  their 
pendeU" 
ti  Bome 
-  so  far 
.  the  de- 
caution 
li  rights 
1 1  hope 
Their 
no  false 
I  deceive 
heir  pol- 
itives  to 
Lve  [not] 
always 
danger 
lore  and 
right  to 
assist- 

er,  LL.  D. 
pril,  1758, 
eated  Lord 
757,  when 
mentioned 
In-in-law  of 
to  Wood- 
It  cannot 
|tlie  family- 
le  cover.") 


ance,  and  not  as  alliance.    1  had  while  in  Ireland 
several  conversations  with  some  of  the  leading 
men  in  their  Parliament,  particularly  on  the  sub- 
ject of  the  augmentation  of  the  Irish  army,  which 
the  Crown  desires,  and  which  is  not  yet  complied 
with; — the  present  establishment  is  12,000  to 
15,000  men ;  —  amongst  other  arguments  against 
this,  you  will  find  the  following  will  [be]  applied 
next  sessions  in  Ireland:  —  that  12,000  men,  if 
applied  to  the  purpose  for  which  they  are  sup- 
posed to  be  raised,  that  is  —  for  the  protection  of 
Ireland,  and  the  English  government  there,  are 
sufficient,  —  if  the  measure  of  withdrawing  the 
men  of  this  army  to  extra  purposes  is  to  continue, 
an  augmentation  ad  infinitum  would  be  to  no  pur- 
pose, so  far  as  respects  them,  —  and  if  they  are 
desired  to  raise  and  pay  an  additional  number  of 
troops,  for  the  purposes  of  .  .  .  of  American  expe- 
ditions, they  will  not  accede  and  be  accessory  to 
such  purposes.    But  if  they  can  have  any  assur- 
ance that  the  additional  number  of  men  now  de- 
sired and  raised,  shall  be  as  guards  and  garrisons 
to  Ireland,  or  for  the  immediate  defence  of  Great 
Britain,  if  attacked,  they  wiU  agree  to  the  aug- 
mentation.    They  will  try  to  clog  the  augmenta- 
tion with  some  such  clause,  and  will  avowedly 
give  the  reason  as  above. 

In  my  way  from  Ireland,  I  visited  our  great 
manufacturing  towns  —  "Wolverhampton  and 
Birmingham.     They  sensibly  feel  the  effect  of 


238 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


your  agreements  against  importing,  and  complain 
of  those  who  reduced  you  to  the  necessity  of  these 
measures.  Some  of  them  told  me,  the  redress 
would  now  come  too  late  —  their  labouring  peo- 
ple began  to  hanker  after  the  good,  cheap  living 
and  freedom  of  America,  and  several  would  never 
be  easy  till  they  got  there.  I  am  convinced,  that 
if  the  American  societies  were  to  establish  a  fund 
appropriated  to  the  supporting  English  manufac- 
turers, and  their  families,  who  should  come  to 
America,  until  a  settlement  and  employment 
could  be  found  for  them  —  if  such  measure,  when 
established,  was  made  known  in  England,  and 
proper  correspondencies  settled  here,  to  forward 
such  sober,  industrious,  and  useful  manufacturers 
as  were  desirous  of  going  —  if  encouragement 
were  given  to  masters  who  gave  them  their  pas- 
page  —  a  whole  flood  of  such  is  ready  to  pour  in 
upon  you,  —  that  although  your  ships  do  not  at 
present  freight  with  our  manufactures,  they  would 
come  full-freighted  with  manufacturers. 

This  was  the  method  taken,  by  act  of  parlia- 
ment, in  Richard  the  2nd's  time,  when  the  Flan- 
ders manufactures  first  began  to  come  over  to 
England ;  —  look  into  the  statutes  and  you  will 
find  it  so.  If  I  were  at  this  moment,  what,  at 
this  moment,  I  wish  to  be  —  established  in  Amer- 
ica on  an  American  root,  for  on  no  other  shall  I 
ever  come  there  —  I  would  establish  such  a  fund  | 
for  there  can  be  no  crime  in  one  part  of  the  King's 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


239 


omplain 

of  these 
;  redress 
ing  peo- 
ip  living 
aid  never 
iced,  that 
sh  a  fund 
manufac- 

come  to 
ployment 
ure,  when 
land,  and 
5  forward 
ufacturers 
iragement 

their  pas- 
to  pour  in 

do  not  at 

ley  would 

of  parlia- 
]  the  Flan- 
le  over  to 
you  will 
what,  at 
in  Amer- 
ler  shall  I 
3h  a  fund  I 
the  King's 


dominions  trying  to  rival  another  in  the  spirit  of 
trade  and  manufactures,  so  long  as  all  coincide 
to  the  same  interest.  I  think  also  so  long  as  any 
set  of  people  can  be  said  to  be  at  liberty  to  judge 
what  it  is  they  want  to  purchase,  and  to  judge  of 
the  terms  on  which  they  are  to  purchase,  nobody 
can  impute  it  as  a  crime  against  the  sellers,  if 
the  buyers  choose  to  abstain  from  the  purchase 
of  such  articles  as  the  sellers  have  clogged  with 
terms  of  sale,  that  these  buyers  do  not  approve  of, 
and  will  not  agree  to.  On  the  contrary,  the  ab- 
staining from  the  importing  such  articles  as  you 
can  do  without,  or  ought  to  raise,  and  make 
amongst  yourselves,  has  a  home  merit.  Thus 
much,  even  as  a  British  member  of  parliament,  I 
may  and  shall  venture  to  say ;  but  as  an  Ameri- 
can, I  will  transcribe  a  remark  from  Sir  William 
Temple :  — 

"  ....  It  is  no  constant  rule,  that  trade 
makes  richer.  For  there  may  be  a  trade  that 
impoverishes  a  nation,  as  it  is  not  going  often  to 
market  that  enriches  the  countryman :  but  on  the 
contrary,  if  every  time  he  comes  there,  he  buys  to 
a  greater  value  than  he  sells,  he  grows  the  poorer 
the  oftener  he  goes.  The  only  and  certain  scale 
of  riches  arising  from  trade  in  a  nation,  is  the 
proportion  of  what  is  exported  for  the  consump- 
tion of  others,  to  what  is  imported  for  their  own. 
The  true  ground  of  this  proportion  lies  in  the 
general  industry  and  parsimony  of  a  people,  or,  in 


240 


TtrSIVB  DISCOVERED. 


the  contrary,  of  both."  —  See  the  whole  of  the 
pasBagc,  in  the  6th  chapter  of  his  remarks  on  the 
United  Provinces.* 

It  is  not  your  advantage  to  be  a  trading' people, 
if  all  the  profits  of  your  labour  are  to  derive  to 
others.  It  is  to  the  disadvantage  of  Great  Brit- 
ain if  you  cease  to  trade.  If  Great  Britain  were 
to  shut  up  all  your  ports,  and  to  exclude  you  from 
the  ocean,  it  would,  by  that  very  act,  drive  you 
to  the  exercise  of  your  proper  interest  —  a  trade 
like  that  of  China,  founded  on  the  internal  inter- 
change of  the  various  manufactures  of  its  various 
provinces,  lying,  as  those  of  America  do,  under 
various  climates. 

While  the  association  of  oeconomy  against  im- 
porting luxuries,  etc.,  circulated  only  amongst  the 
merchants,  I  had  no  great  trust  or  apprehension 
about  it ;  —  importing  is  their  business,  and  they 
must  live  by  it.  Their  resolutions  therefore 
against  such,  could  act  only  as  temporary ;  but  I 
did  always  believe,  that  the  spirit  which  began, 
and  even  grew  up  in  the  maritime  and  trading 
towns  —.  not  in  its  natural  soil — would  soon  take 
root  in  the  country,  which,  when  it  had  once  done 
it,  never  could  be  again  eradicated.  What  I  ex- 
pected, you  tell  me  has  come  to  pass ;  and  it  is 
upon  this  crisis  that  the  fate  of  the  eastern  and 


1  Viz.  Observations  upon  the  United  Provinces  ofUie  Netherlands; 
first  edit.  London,  1673,  8vo.  —  7th  edit.  London,  1705,  8vo.— 
F.  G. 


JUNIUS  DI800VERBD. 


S41 


of  the 
on  the 

'people, 
erive  to 
at  Brit- 
in  were 
ou  from 
ive  you 
a  trade 
lal  inter- 
i  various 
0,  under 

ainst  im- 
3ngst  the 
ehension 

nd  they 
;herefore 
•y;  but  I 
began, 

trading 
loon  take 
lice  done 
Ihat  I  ex- 

ind  it  is 

tern  and 

Netherlands; 
f05,  8vo.— 


western  world  will  take  Us  turn,  a^id  from  thii 
moment  that  fate  is  decided. 

By  the  papers  which  you  have  sent  me,  and  by 
the  train  which  I  understand  the  negotiations  in 
favor  of  the  province  are  to  run,  I  am  the  more 
and  more  convinced  of  the  propriety,  and  even 
safety  of  the  advice,  which  I  have  so  often  re- 
peated, against  all  paper — all  writing  —  and  all 
negotiating.  Where  a  people  are  so  circum- 
stanced, that  they  cannot  always  give  the  real 
reason,  they  will  always  give  an  advantage 
against  themselves,  when  they  give  the  ostensible 
one.  Besides,  I  am  sorry  to  feel,  what  I  shall 
not  say,  that  even  the  ostensible  is  not  conducted 
to  the  best  advantage  for  the  Province ;  —  it  may, 
and*  will  perhaps,  serve  the  purposes  of  some  fac- 
tion here,  but  must,  on  the  ground  to  which  it  is 
now  warped,  make  a  mere  tool  —  a  mere  cat's- 
paw  of  the  interest  of  the  Province,  for  the  sake 
of  interests  which  never  can  be  united  with  it.  I 
am  really  grieved  to  see  it,  but  the  repeated  ex- 
perience of  every  day  gives  one  to  see  (without 
being  the  wiser  for  it),  that  a  people  always  put 
more  trust  in  —  and  have  more  love  for  the  iriends 
of  their  passions,  than  in  those  of  their  real  in- 
terest. 

By  the  conduct  of  Ministry  last  year,  and  in 
the  beginning  of  this,  there  are  points  arisen  into 
controversy  —  into  question  — and  [they]  remain 

16 


242 


^UKIUS  DISOOYBRID. 


etill  most  dangerously  in  question,  which  respect 
every  right  and  privilege  — 
that  the  petition  of  rights  -— 

the  act  for  abolishing  the  star-chamber  -^ 

the  habeas  corpus  act — 

the  bill  of  rights  — 

the  act  of  settlement— do  establish  and 
confirm. 
There  are  rights  and  liberties,  which  depend  upon 
the  constitution  itself,  arisen  into  doubt  and  con- 
test, and  all  these  are  passed  by,  to  engage  in  a 
personal  dispute  of  mere  trifling  personal  conse- 
quence, which  will  either  have  no  end,  or  a  bad 
one. 

On  the  subject  of  the  real  grievances  of  the 
Colonies  I  am  now  employed,  —  and  if  the  colo- 
nists would  assist  their  friends  in  their  own  cause, 
a  sure  and  lasting  security  might  be  obtained :  — 
however,  assisted  or  unassisted  —  obtained  or  not 
obtained — the  remedy  shall  be  sought. 

Paoli  is  come  to  England,  and  Government 
and  ministry  have  taken  him  by  the  hand,  and 
he  is  so  far  in  their  hands. 

I  was  desired  to  advise  my  friends  in  America, 
that  a  new  discovery  of  making  alkaline  salts 
from  sea-water,  in  so  easy  and  cheap  a  manner 
has  been  now  made,  as  must  put  a  total  stop  to 
the  use  of  pot-ash  amongst  our  manufacturers. 
It  has  been  discovered  by  the  same  gentleman 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


24a 


who-  invented  the  method  of  procuring  oil  of  vit-t 
riol.  The  knowledge  of  this  fact  may  be  of  use, 
to  prevent  any  people  putting  either  their  prop- 
erty or  labour  in  the  manufacture  of  potash. 
Perhaps  people  will  not  believe  the  fact,  and  will 
of  course  not  listen  to  the  caution;— but,  as  I 
was  desired,  I  have  given  the  caution. 

Pray  let  me  from  time  to  time  hear  from  you, 
and  believe  me  most  sincerely, 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

T.    POWNALL. 

P.  S.  —  I  this  moment  by  Mr.  S.  Elliot  receive 
your  favor  of  Aug.  the  3rd.  ~  Your  recommenda- 
tions I  shall  be  happy  to  honor. 


LETTER  X. 

London,  Albemarle  street,  Sept.  25,  '69. 
Dear  Sir  :  —  I  am  extremely  happy  that  I  did 
write  you  word,  that  I  declined  wishing  to  be  ap- 
pointed Agent.  I  first  wished  it,  from  the  same 
motive  from  which  I  wished  to  serve  the  Prov- 
ince ;  because,  being  entrusted  with,  and  being 
personally  deputed  for  the  interest  and  concerns 
of  the  Province,  would  have  entitled  me  person- 
ally to  have  interposed,  and  to  have  been  con- 
sulted, where  my  interposition  and  advice  might 


844 


JT7NIUS  DISCOVERED. 


have  essentially  served  the  Cause.  I  wished  it — 
secondly,  as  such  an  appointment,  if  general 
enough  to  be  esteemed  unanimous,  would  have 
done  me  honor,  both  from  your  opinion  of  my 
knowledge  of  your  affairs,  and  from  your  confi- 
dence in  my  attachment  to  the  interest  of  the 
People.  It  would  not  have  dis-served  the  cause 
of  the  Province,  to  have  given  to  the  world  a 
proof,  that  the  People  of  the  Province  are  so  far 
from  what  they  are  held  forth  to  be  —  disaffected 
to  the  government  of  the  mother-country,  and  of 
the  Crown — that  where  a  Governor,  a  servant 
of  the  Crowfii  has  administered  their  affairs  with 
a  spirit  which  united  the  interest  of  the  Crown 
and  People,  they  think  that  very  Governor  the 
very  person  whom  they,  of  their  own  choice,  will 
entrust,  as  their  servant. 

I  saw  my  way  clearly,  how  I  could  serve  the 
Province,  —  I  saw,  as  clearly,  how  it  was  not, 
and  would  not  be  served,  and  I  wished  to  be  en- 
abled to  serve  it  really,  without  regard  to  any  of 
the  parties  or  the  factions  which  will  ruin  this 
country,  and  hazard  yours.  But  under  these  de- 
sires I  never  meant  that  my  friends  should  can- 
vass for  me,  or  make  it  a  matter  of  contest.  The 
contest  —  nay,  the  very  canvass  would  have  dis- 
honored the  honpr.  I  wished  from  it.  If  I  could 
not  have  it  without  competition,  the  competition 
would  have  taken  away  the  very  authority  that 
the  appointment  should  have  given  me  here  in 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


24^ 


your  behalf; — besides,  that  under  such  a  predic- 
ament the  losing  faction,  in  constantly  counter- 
acting me,  must  have  counteracted  the  interest 
of  the  Province.  I  wished  only  to  be  clothed 
with  the  means  of  serving  the  Province,  the  doing 
of  which,  and  the  honor  and  pleasure  which  must 
have  redounded  to  me,  and  resided  in  my  breast 
from  doing  it,  was  the  only  reward  I  sought.  I 
aimed  at  no  emolument  —  at  no  interested  view 
from  it.  But  of  this  no  more,  —  it  was  just  ne- 
cessary to  have  said  thus  much. 

I  shall  still  invariably  continue  to  be,  and  to 
act  as  the  real  friend  of  the  Province.  I  am  now 
at  liberty  to  do  it  in  any  way  which  I  think  will 
best  serve  its  real  interest :  —  whereas,  if  I  had 
entered  into  any  compact  with  the  General  Court, 
I  must  have  esteemed  myself  bound  to  have  done 
it,  from  time  to  time,  in  such  way  as  the  leading 
interest  of  men  would  have  required,  which,  at 
various  times,  has  much  hurt  the  interests  of  the 
Province. 

I  wonder  I  have  never  received  a  line  from  the 
Town.  There  is  a  transient  pleasure  in  know- 
ing that  one's  services  are  acceptable,  especially 
when  they  have  been  effectual ;  but  the  perma- 
nent pleasure  arises  from  a  consciousness  of  hav- 
ing done  it  as  a  duty,  and  not  as  pleasuring  any 
one,  or  any  set  of  men. 

Pray  give  my  most  affectionate  regards  to  all 
my  old  friends.     If  ever  you  hear  from — write 


m 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


to  —  or  see  my  old  friend  Mr.  Tyng,  tell  him  I 
shall  never  cease  to  honor  and  esteem  him, 
which  I  do  the  more  from  contemplating  hie  re- 
tirement. I  most  truly  condole  with  him  for  his 
late  loss.    I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

T.    POWNALL. 

The  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper. 


LETTER  XI. 


London,  Albemarle  street,  Oct.  9, 1769. 
Dear  Sir  :  —  I  write  to  you  as  standing  in  the 
same  predicament  with  myself  as  to  opinions, 
namely,  considering  that  which  is  nearest  to  right 
and  truth  in  things  to  be  best  for  men  in  politics^ 
without  ever  looking  to  that  which  leading  par- 
ties of  men  ikinJe  to  be,  or  wish  to  be  considered 
as  best.  But  there  is  a  material  difference  in  our 
situations  as  to  practice.  I  am  totally  with- 
drawn, and  remote  from  mixing  in  with  the  busi- 
ness of  the  Province,  and  do  not  find  myself  par- 
ticipating in  that  degree  of  confidence  with  the 
men  of  it,  as  might  be  useful  to  them.  Your  sit- 
uation, relations  and  alliances  must  necessarily, 
and  indeed  ought  to  mix  you  with  them ;  and 
therefore,  when  I  have  at  this  distance  —  in  my 


JUNIUS  DISOOVERBD. 


247 


letters  •—  disapproved  any  part  of  the  conduct  of 
our  friends,  as  comparing  it  with  the  ultimate 
right  there,  you  may  be  able  to  see,  and  to  say 
how  I  am  mistaken,  considering  the  necessary 
dig-estion  of  business^  passing  through  men. 
When  I  suggest  what  I  think  to  be  right,  your 
relative  situation  may  explain  to  you  why  that 
very  right  may  be  wrong ;  'or  even  if  it  should  be 
right,  and  what  a  dispassionate  friend  to  the 
Province  would  wish  to  be  done,  the  friends  with 
whom  you  are  connected  can  tell  you  why  that 
is  not  the  nail  which  will  drive. 

Under  this  explanation,  I  wiU  give  you,  with- 
out disguise,  my  free  and  open  opinion  of  the 
present  state  of  things. 

If  it  were  necessary  to  the  Assembly,  for  osten- 
sible reasons,  respecting  their  constituents  and 
the  people  of  the  Province  at  large,  to  write,  and 
to  print  messages,  remonstrances,  etc.,  it  should 
have  been  confined  to  the  Province.  I  do  assure 
you  that  (whatever  people  on  this  side  of  the 
water,  who  want  to  negotiate  with  your  griev- 
ances, to  their  own  emolument,  may  tell  you), 
your  writings,  and  your  coming  forward  in  a  pal- 
try, personal  quarrel,  unworthy  your  state,  wiU 
operate  to  no  good,  and  turn  out  to  your  disad- 
vantage. 

If  the  Province  had  stood  with  that  patient 
courage  which  a  conscious  sense  of  not  being 
wrong  always  gives,  and  had  contemned,  rather 


248 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


than  answered  suggestions  which  could  not 
warrant  any  charge  against  them,  and  had  ^^> 
manded  the  charge  to  be  made  and  brought  for- 
ward in  legal  proof,  such  measure  (as  I  advised) 
would  have  had  better  effect  here,  than  what  has 
been  done.  For  people  here,  comparing  the  in- 
sufficiency of  suggestions  which  cannot  amount 
to  a  charge  of  any  crimen  with  the  collected  and 
assured  confidence  and  silence  which  the  prov- 
ince and  town  observed  (except  in  calling  for  the 
charge),  would  have  conceived  a  conviction  of 
your  innocence  and  rectitude,  which  no  writings 
and  arguments  will  give.  On  the  contrary,  such 
writings,  from  some  defect  in  the  matter,  or  even 
the  mode  of  them,  may  give  advantage  against 
the  Province.     So  much  for  the  defensive. 

But  they  have  another  part  to  act,  which  they 
have  not  of  themselves  yet  taken  up,  nor  does  it 
appear  that  any  one  has  suggested  to  them,  — 
that  is,  A  Claim  of  Rights.  For,  besides  the 
claim  of  not  being  taxed  but  by  yourselves,  or 
by  deputies  of  your  own  election,  have  there  not 
been  brought  into  question,  and  [do  there  not] 
remain  in  a  dangerous  state  of  indecision,  three 
important  points  ? 

1.  If  any  late  conduct  or  advice,  by  referring 
to  an  old  act,  made  for  the  tryal  of  treasons  com- 
mitted out  of  the  realniy  by  such  persons  as  had 
no  legal  resiancy  but  within  the  realmy  and  then 
stating  the  subject  in  America  as  under  the  pre- 


JUNIUS  DISCOVBRED. 


S49 


;mng 
corn- 
had 
then 
pre- 


dicament of  the  case  made  by  that  act :  By  ap- 
plying the  purview  of  a  statute  which  was  made 
to  bring  subjects  of  the  realm,  who  had  commit- 
ted treasons  out  of  the  realm  (in  places  where 
was  no  criminal  jurisdiction  to  which  they  might 
be  amenable),  to  tryal  within  the  realm,  under 
that  criminal  jurisdiction  to  which  by  their  legal 
resiancy  and  allegiance  they  were  alone  amena- 
ble; by  applying  this  to  the  case  of  subjects 
whose  legal  resiancy  is  without  the  realm,  and 
who  are  by  that  resiancy  and  their  allegiance 
amenable  to  a  criminal  jurisdiction  without  the 
realm,  authorised  and  empowered  to  try  all  capi- 
tal offences,  and  to  give  judgment  thereupon 
without  appeal ;  by  applying  this  statute  so  as  to 
take  up  a  proceeding  for  which  there  is  no  legal 
process,  either  by  common  or  statute  law,  and  at 
the  same  time  superseding  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
legal  courts,  and  of  the  laws,  established  without 
the  realm,  by  construction  on  such  doubtful  cases, 
so  as  to  take  away  the  benefit  of  the  writ  of  Ha- 
beas Corpus,  by  which  some  of  the  essential 
rights  of  British  subjects,  as  enjoyed  and  pos- 
sessed within  the  realm,  are  brought  into  doubt, 
—  is  it  not  a  serious  matter  ?  —  Does  there  not 
arise  a  Claim,  which  ought  no  longer  to  remain 
in  a  dangerous  and  presumptuous  state  of  inde- 
cision ? 

2.  Ts  it  not  a  serious  matter,  whether  appeals 
are  to  lye  from  the  judicatory  of  the  Province,  in 


350 


JUNIUS   DISOOYBRED. 


real  actionSf  to  the  King  in  Council,  whereby  the 
landtj,  tenements,  and  hereditaments  of  British 
subjects  may  be  questioned  by  the  Lords  of  the 
privy  Council,  contrary  to  the  Petition  of  Rights, 
16  Car.  I.  cap.  10? 

3.  Ought  it  to  remain  any  longer  in  doubt 
(much  less  in  practice),  whether  a  military  power 
and  command,  exercising  law-martial,  can  be 
legally  authorised  to  act,  or  can  legally  act,  in 
any  province  where  there  is,  as  of  perfect  right 
there  ought  to  be,  a  Civil  Government,  invested 
with  the  regalia,  according  to  the  laws  and  con- 
stitution of  England,  in  a  way  independent  of, 
and  superseding  the  command  of  the  civil  su- 
preme magistrate  of  that  government?  If  the 
people  are  entitled  to  the  rights  of  a  British  sub- 
ject, their  supreme  civil  magistrate  [vide  Ad- 
minis,  of  the  Colonies,  edit.  1768,  page  85,  86, 
etc.]  must  have  of  right,  as  in  fact  he  has,  the 
perfect  exercise  of  the  regalia.  If  these  can  be 
granted  in  part^  or  —  being  granted  in  full,  ample, 
and  perfect  manner,  can  be  afterward  superseded, 
in  part  or  in  whole,  by  any  military  command,  — 
may,  or  may  not,  a  Military  Government  be  so 
far  forth  established  ? 

Are  not  the  rights  contained  in  these  three 
qusBries  serious  matter  of  Claim  ?  —  Is  not  this 
Ground  which  will  not  deceive  you  ?  —  Is  not  this 
matter  of  Remonstrance  or  Petition,  which,  in  the 
hands  of  some  friend  to  the  colonies,  who  has 


JUKIUS  DIS0OVBRBD. 


251 


three 
^t  this 

)t  this 
|in  the 
lo  has 


studied  these  points,  may  be  wrought  up  to  the 
establishment  of  your  political  liberty  ? 

If  these  points  be  once  avowedly  brought  for- 
ward in  claim,  they  must  be  decided  —  and  they 
cannot  be  decided  agmnst  you.  Whereas,  on 
the  other  hand,  if  th^^estion  of  the  revenue 
laws  should  be  huddled  up  by  some  compromise 
amongst  parties,  which  I  think,  from  what  hap- 
pened last  sessions,  there  is  some  reason  to  im- 
agine may  happen,  these  never  having  been 
brought  forward,  will  remain  suspended  in  the 
state  they  are. 

Consider  this,  and  make  what  use  you  think 
is  best  for  the  true  and  real  peace  and  safety  of 
the  British  rights  in  America,  as  by  law  estab- 
lished ;  and,  if  there  be  any  part  that  our  friends 
shall  wish  me  to  take  to  that  end,  I  shall  do  it 
readily  in  their  behalf,  —  but  I  shall  do  it  also, 
from  principle,  of  my  own  mere  motion,  inde- 
pendent of  all  parties  and  views  of  men. 

I  beg  my  respects  to  all  friends  who  wish  to 
be  remembered  to  or  by  me. 
I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

T.  P . 


262 


JUNIUS  DISOOVERID. 


LETTER  XII. 


London,  6  Dec,  1769. 

Dear  Sir,  and  my  ver'wPjod  Friend  :  — 

I  am  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter 
of  the  8th  Sept.,  by  Captain  Freeman*s  ship  — 
for  you  will  see  by  the  post-mark  on  the  cover, 
which  I  now  inclose,  that  notwithstanding  he 
bad  promised  to  deliver  it  to  my  own  hand,  he 
put  it  ashore  at  Deal ;  so  that  had  it  contained 
any  matter  of  confidence,  that  you  would  have 
wished  to  have  been  confined  between  yourself 
and  me,  we  should  have  had  another  confidant, 
viz.,  Government,  thro'  whose  hands  the  letter 
most  certainly  has  passed. 

On  the  subject  of  the  Agency,  I  have  said  so 
much  in  my  former  letters,  that  I  shall  repeat  no 
more ;  and  really  wish  to  drop  the  subject,  as  I 
never  meant  to  have  any  thing  to  do  with  a  mat- 
ter that  was  to  become  a  subject  of  contention. 
An  unanimous  reference  of  their  interest  to 
me,  would  have  done  me  honor,  and  enabled 
me  in  return  to  have  done  them  the  more  service. 
But  a  matter  of  contest  could  neither  have  done 
them  nor  me  service,  but  must  have  been  a  dis- 
honor to  me. 

I  am  very  glad  to  find  that  your  people  begin 
to  be  sensible  of  the  danger  of  suffering  their  in- 


JUNIUS  DISOOVfiRBD. 


253 


terests  to  be  governed,  or  even  influenced,  by  any 
faction  on  this  side  the  water ;  and  I  hope  that 
the  sense  of  that  will  work  itself  with  a  principle 
of  action,  which  may  prevent  such  danger. 

You  tell  me  that  the  merchants  remain  firm.  — 
I  wish  they  had  remained  firm,  and  not  done  more. 
Every  man  certainly  has  a  right  to  withdraw  his 
custom  from  any  person  or  persons  whose  trade 
he  does  not  approve,  and  certainly  has  a  right  to 
judge  what  he  will,  and  what  he  will  not  pur- 
chase for  his  own  use :  —  But  when  such  person, 
or  a  number  of  persons  in  a  body,  proceed  to  re- 
strain other  individuals,  by  compulsive  measures, 
they  do  undoubtedly  give  an  opportunity  to 
others  against  themselves,  which  may  and  will 
be  used  to  their  disadvantage. 

When  I  say  this,  I  don't  speak  of  what  Gov- 
ernment may  or  will  do :  but  I  know  that  some 
late  steps  taken  at  Boston,  have  hurt  our  friends 
there,  with  persons  here,  who,  though  not  pro- 
fessed friends,  were  yet  well  disposed  to  have 
assisted  and  befriended  them. 

You  know  I  always  was  of  opinion,  that  neg- 
lecting the  great  points  of  interest  and  concern 
touching  their  affairs,  which  have  of  late  been 
drawn  into  question,  and  engaging  themselves 
with  a  resentment  unworthy  of  them  in  a  per- 
sonal quarrel  and  dispute  with  their  late  Gover- 
nor,^ who  never  will  or  can  have  any  further  con- 

1  Sir  Francis  Bernard,  Bart.  —  F.  G. 


804 


JUNHTB  DISOOVffiOD* 


neotion  with  theni)  or  power  either  to  hurt  or 
serve  them,  was  a  step  which  passion  has  hurried 
them  into,  at  a  time  when  prudence  and  policy 
would  have  passed  by,  and  have  engaged  their 
whole  attention  to  matters  of  infinitely  greater 
concern.  I  can  only  repeat  here  that  advice 
which  I  once  gave,  and  which  is  now  become  a 
mere  idle  wish,  —  that  they  had  neither  written 
letters,  nor  remonstrances,  nor  appeals,  —  or  suf- 
fered themselves  to  enter  into  any  negotiations 
whatsoever,  either  with  ministers,  or  their  oppo- 
sers  in  this  country,  but  let  their  cause  have  stood 
on  its  own  bottom,  whilst  they  stood  on  their 
own  defence,  when  properly  called  to  it 
•  •  «  •  •    .        • 

I  hope  all  friends  with  you  are  well.    I  beg 
my  most  sincere  respects  to  them,  and  am,  in 
every  sense  and  affection  of  friendship, 
Your  sincere  friend, 

T.   POWNALL. 

The  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper. 


LETTER  XIII. 


London,  Jan.  27,  '70. 
Dear  Sir  :  —  Being  in  the  New  England  Cof- 
fee-house, and  hearing  that  the  master  of  a  ship 


i 


lLL. 


'70. 


Id  Cof- 
ship 


JUNIUS  DIBOOVIBBD. 


205 


for  Rhode  Island  takes  away  his  bag  this  eve- 
ning, I  just  seize  the  opportunity  to  acquaint  you, 
that  I  have  fixed  an  early  day  (which  would 
have  been  much  earlier,  had  not  the  illness  and 
death  of  our  late  Speaker '  put  off  all  business), 
to  propose  the  total  repeal  of  the  late  revenue- 
law,  imposing  duties  in  America.  If  your  peo- 
ple had  been  more  firm  to  their  agreement,  the 
ground  of  the  necessity  of  doing  it  would  have 
been  better.  I  shall  make  no  reflections  on  this 
matter.  1  hope  I  shall  get  my  day  for  the  mo- 
tion unalterably  fixed  for  Monday  se'nnight. 
My  endeavours  to  bring  forward  measures  which 
will  again  restore  the  minds  of  the  Americans  to 
peace  and  confidence  must  go  further,  I  shall, 
either  in  the  Committee  for  the  state  of  the  na- 
tion, or  when  Administration  lays  before  the 
House  the  state  of  his  Majesty's  Government  in 
America,  bring  forward  the  two  points  of — 

1.  The  Americans  being  supposed  by  certain 
resolutions  liable  to  be  taken  from  their  legal  re- 
siancy  to  be  brought  to  Great  Britain,  to  be  tryed 
on  imputations  or  suggestions  of  treason, — and 

2.  The  case  of  the  military  commission  of 
Commander-in-Chief  superseding  the  powers  (in 
actual  command)  of  the  supreme  civil  magistrate. 

As  the  ideas  of  the  right  and  liberty  of  the  in- 


^  Viz.,  Sir  John  Cast,  who  resigned  the  Speakership  of  the 
H.  of  C  on  the  22d  of  Jan.,  and  died  the  same  day.  — F.  G. 


256 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


dividual,  and  of  the  political  liberty  and  rights  of 
the  constitution  are  so  indecisive,  superficial,  and 
vague,  that  scarce  any  here  attends  enough 
to  them,  so  as  to  draw,  or  to  judge  of  when 
drawn,  any  stable  and  true  consequences  in  rea- 
soning upon  this  subject,  I  have  drawn  up  a  state 
of  the  Constitutions  of  the  Colonies,  and  printed 
a  few  copies  to  give  to  my  friends.  -I  inclose  to 
you  a  few  copies.  I  make  no  secret  of  my  being 
the  author  of  it,  and  even  wish  it  as  publick  as  I 
wish  the  beneficial  purport  of  it  to  be  wherever  it 
shall  be  attended  to  and  understood. 

I  am,  your  sincere  and  old  friend. 


Jan.  29.  —  Last  night  the  Duke  of  Grafton  re- 
signed. Lord  North  is  to  be  Minister^  and  First 
Lord  of  the  Treasury,  and  Chancellor  of  the  Ex- 
chequer. 

The  first  mark  of  this  change  which  I  have  ex- 
perienced is  —  that  upon  asking  him  last  night 
to  agree  to  fix  a  day  with  me  for  my  motion — - 
as  the  day  we  had  agreed  to  fix  upon  was  now 
superseded  by  the  business  of  the  Committee /or 
the  state  of  the  nation  taking  up  that  day  —  his 
answer  was,  that  Ministry  themselves  were 
pledged  to  move  a  repeal  of  the  law,^  so  far  as  the 
duties  on  glass^  paper,  white-lead,  red-lead,  and 


1  Viz.,  the  Act  7  Geo.  III.  c.  46. —F.  G. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


257 


painters'*  colours  went.  I  told  him  that  would 
answer  no  one  good  purpose^  unless  they  repealed 
all  the  duties^  and  repealed  the  discontinuance  of 
the  drawback  on  China  earthen-ware,  so  that  no 
part  of  the  act,  not  even  the  preamble,  which  was 
really  the  grievance  felt,  should  remain,  respect- 
ing these  American  duties  levied  for  the  purpose 
of  revenue.  The  duty  on  tea  will  not  be  repealed 
—  the  discontinuance  of  the  drawback  on  China 
earthen-ware  is  to  stand  —  and  the  preamble  to 
remain.^ 

I  shall  oppose  a  partial  repeal,  and  shall  pro- 
pose an  amendment  that  goes  to  a  repeal  of  the 
whole,  —  nor  will  I  now  absolutely  despair,  but 
I  can  give  you  no  hopes.  Mr.  Alderman  Tre- 
cothick  is  very  zealous  in  the  cause,  and  by  his 
great  weight  and  influence  amongst  the  mer- 
chants, as  well  as  by  his  interest  amongst  certain 
connexions  at  this  end  of  the  town,  will  greatly 
strengthen  the  ground.'* 

Your  real  and  affectionate  friend. 


1  "  Yet  it  ought  to  be  repealed,  as  an  impolitic  act,  not  as  an 
oppressive  one.  It  presei'vcs  the  contention  between  the  mother- 
country  and  the  colonies,  when  every  thing  worth  contending  for  is 
in  reality  given  up."  —  Junius  to  Wilkes,  No.  66,  vol.  i.  294.  —  F.  G. 

2  March  5,  1770,  — Lord  North  moved  to  bring  in  a  bill  to  re- 
peal so  much,  etc., — leaving  out  only  the  duty  on  tea.  Gov. 
Pownall  moved,  in  amendment,  to  introduce  the  words  —  "and 
on  teas,"  —  the  House  divided,  —  for  the  amendment,  142, — 
against  it,  204. 

April  19,  Mr.  Treco thick  showed  his  zeal  in  the  cause,  by 

17 


258 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


LETTER    XIV. 

London,  March  8,  *70,  Albemarle  street. 
Dear  Sir  :  —  I  have  stolen  away  from  the 
House  —  now  half-past  8  o'clock,  P.  M.,  just  to 
send  you  a  line  in  acknowledgment  of  the  receipt 
of  your's  of  the  1st,  and  of  the  30th  of  January, 
'70.  I  have  not  time  to  answer  either.  I  have 
a  subject  of  the  utmost  importance  to  explain  to 
you,  but  in  this  short  note  have  only  time  to  beg 
you  to  caution  the  good  people  to  suspend  the 
doing  of  any  thing,  on  the  grand  point  of  the 
state  of  the  military  power  being  paramount  to, 
and  superseding  the  civil.  The  whole  success  in 
the  conduct  of  this  point  will  depend  on  the 
taking  the  right  ground^  —  and  therefore,  I  hope 
nothing  will  be  done  in  it  by  the  General  Courts 
till  the  May  session.  Something  should  be  done, 
in  the  mean  time,  by  your  law-courts^  which  I 
will  explain  in  my  next.  I  will  act  upon  the 
best  advice  in  England,  and  be  sure  of  safe 
ground.  I  have  given  notice  that  I  will  bring 
forward  the  consideration  of  the  state  of  his  Ma- 


moving  for  leave  to  bring  in  a  bill  to  repeal  the  American  duty 
on  tea ;  but  the  motion  was  rejected,  as  out  of  order,  the  question 
having  been  decided  on  Gov.  I'  j  iiotion  in  amendment.  Lord 
North's  bill  received  the  Royal  assent,  May  19,  1770.  It  is  the 
lOGeo.  IIL  c.  17.— F.  G. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


259 


jesti/s  Government  in  North  America^  and  that  I 
will  point  out  the  unlawful  state  of  the  military 
establishment.  This  point,  respecting  the  mili- 
tary and  civil  command  in  North  America,  has 
been  decided  in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
here.  I  will  send  you,  from  the  hand  of  one  of 
the  first  lawyers  in  this  kingdom,  the  state  of  that 
process^  and  will  point  out  what  it  will  be  neces- 
sary for  you  to  do,  to  form  the  proper  ground  for 
the  course  which  your  Assembly  should  take  to 
obviate  the  establishment  of  a  military  power, 
paramount  to  the  civil  supreme  magistrate ;  and 
the  same  course,  I  doubt  not,  will  be  unani- 
mously taken  by  the  whole  of  the  provinces  and 
colonies.  Suspend  every  thing,  therefore,  at 
present.  By  some  of  the  next  ships  you  shall 
hear  further.  I  will  almost  venture  to  promise, 
that  I  will  put  an  end  to  your  fears  about  the 
military. 

I  have  not  time  to  write  you  any  thing  about 
the  part  I  took  in  the  motion  for  a  total  repeal  of 
all  the  duties,  —  you  will,  I  dare  say,  hear  that 
from  others. 

Mr.  BoUan,  very  imprudently,  in  the  opinion 
of  many  of  your  friends,  interposed  by  petitioning, 
at  a  time  when  the  prudence  of  every  colony,  and 
every  agent,  avoided  the  making  the  necessity, 
or  propriety,  of  a  repeal,  an  American  measme  — 
at  a  time  when  the  true  line  of  conduct  was,  that 


360 


JTJNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


it  should  derive  from  the  application  of  the  Brit- 
ish merchant. 

Pray  make  my  best  compliments  to  Mr.  Bow- 
doin,  —  tell  him  I  received  his  letter  of  Dec.  5, 
'69,  and  will  answer  it,  as  soon  as  the  hurry  of 
our  present  engagements  are  over.  I  have  re- 
ceived the  letter  of  the  committee  of  merchants, 
and  the  books,  and  beg  you  to  thank  them  for 
me.  I  will  write  them  an  answer  by  the  next 
ships.     Remember  me  to  &s  —  ^  I  wish  to 

be  remembered  by  all  my  friends  of  the  Prov- 
ince. I  am  your  affectionate  friend, 

T.    POWNALL. 

To  the  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper,  Boston. 


LETTER  XV. 

London,  Albemarle  street,  March  31,  '70. 
Dear  Sir  :  —  I  don't  find  that  in  any  of  your 
letters  of  Dec,  or  of  Jan.  1,  or  30,  you  mention 
the  receipt  of  mine  of  Oct.  6th,  wherein  I  sug- 
gested the  matter  of  the  military  peace  establish- 
ment existing  paramount  to  the  civil  supreme 
magistrate,  who  is,  and  ought  to  be,  according  to 
our  constitution,  military  Commander-in-Chief, 


1  Sic  in  orig. 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


261 


within  the  precincts  of  his  jurisdiction.  There 
are  many  reasons  why  I  should  be  sorry,  that 
that,  and  one  former  letter  on  the  same  subject, 
should  have  miscarried;  —  not  that  I  care  any 
thing  as  to  the  fate  of  the  letter,  for  it  contained 
nothing  which  I  shall  not  take  occasion  to  avow, 
in  such  manner  as  shall  turn  out  to  the  confusion 
of  those  who  shall  dare  to  avow  the  support  of 
the  military  establishment  as  it  now  stands.  But 
I  am  sorry,  lest  the  subject-matter  suggested,  and 
the  maimer  of  taking  it  up,  should  not  have 
reached  you. 

Through  the  delay  of  lawyers,  I  am  not  able 
to  send  you  the  opinions  which  I  promised  to 
send  you.  Through  the  backwardness  of  friends, 
and  the  illness  of  others,  who  would  fairly  stand 
forth,  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  bring  forward, 
in  parliament,  thn-  matter.  You  cannot  conceive 
—  1  cannot,  in  a  letter,  explain  —  and  if  I  could, 
it  is  impossible  you  could  believe,  the  reasons  of 
the  obstructions  and  difficulties  one  meets  with, 
in  moving  any  thing  respecting  America.     Dr» 

^  goes  this  summer  to  Philadelphia.     I 

refer  to  him,  on  all  points  not  explanatory  by  let- 
ter. I  hope  that  the  advice  I  gave,  relative  to  the 
suspending  all  measures  touching  the  above  men- 
tioned military  business  (in  a  letter  forwarded  by 
Mr.  Haley)  arrived  time  enough,  and  hath  been 


1  Sic  in  orig.  —  quaere  —  Franklin  ? 


262 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED, 


'%»■.^ 


taken.     We  shall  have  a  recess  at  Easter,  when 
I  will  write  fully  to  you. 

A  bill  foi  the  reforming  the  shameful,  profligate 
mode  and  manner  we  had  got  into,  of  deciding 
on  contested  elections  in  the  House,  —  for  taking 
the  trying  and  deciding  out  of  the  House  at  large, 
and  giving  it  to  a  select  Committee  (to  be  drawn 
by  ballot  upon  each  case)  formed  on  the  model 
o'  a  jury,  and  under  all  the  same  sanctions,  has 
uassed  our  House,  making  its  way  by  the  irresis- 
tible force  of  right,  truth,  and  necessity,  against 
the  Ministry,  who  fruitlessly  opposed  it.  I  am 
not  a  little  proud  of  the  share  I  had  in  it,  and  of 
the  honour  I  had  in  being  one  of  the  persons  to 
bring  it  in.  This  event  has  shewn  that  all  spirit  of 
honour  is  not  yet  quite  dead  and  corrupt  amongst 
us.  This  measure  will  restore  us  to  our  honour, 
—  will,  1  hope,  regain  to  us  the  esteem  of  the 
people,  and  lead  to  every  the  most  salutary  pur- 
pose. 

In  all  steps  your  friends  take,  let  suaviter  in 
modo,  fortiter  in  re-  -  be  the  motto,  and  the  spirit 
of  conduct,  never  to  be  deviated  -"rom  for  a  mo- 
ment —  for  one  instant. 

Your  sincere  and  affectionate  friend, 

T.  P. 

The  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper. 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


26^ 


LETTER   XVI. 


pur- 


P. 


London,  Albemarle  street,  April  11,  '70. 

Dear  Sir  :  —  Having  fully  explained  myself  on 
many  points  to  Mr.  Elliot,  whom  you  were  so 
good  as  to  recommend  to  me,  and  for  which  I  am 
much  obliged  to  you,  I  shall  refer  myself  to  him 
on  those  matters,  as  better  explained  by  word 
than  writing. 

Last  Frid|iy,  Mr.  Trecothick,  upon  the  com- 
mitment of  the  American  duty- bill,  gave  notice, 
that  he  would,  as  yesterday,  make  a  motion  for 
leave  to  bring  in  a  bill  for  the  repeal  of  the  duty 
laid  by  the  7th  of  Geo.  III.,  on  teas,  —  and  yes- 
terday, brought  on  his  motion.  K  being  gener- 
ally understood,  that  this  matter  had  been  fully 
argued,  and  had  received  its  negative,  and  that 
it  could  not  be  brought  on  again  the  same  ses- 
sion, and  that  the  so  bringing  it  on  was  not  quite 
according  to  the  rules  observed  even  between 
party  and  party,  [the  House)  was  very  ill  attended. 
There  were  not  fifty  members  in  the  House  when 
the  debate  began,  and  but  132  at  the  decision. 
When  the  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  Trecothick, 
it  was  opposed  by  calling  for  the  order  of  the  day, 
and  after  a  few  speeches  to  the  point  of  order,  the 
matter  was  decided  against  the  question,  by  80 
to  52. 


264 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


There  is  gone  through  our  House,  and  will,  I 
believe,  go  through  the  House  of  Lords,  a  bill 
"  to  regulate  the  tryals  of  controverted  elections, 
etc."  ^  I  have  sent  a  blank  copy  to  Mr.  Bow- 
doin,  with  some  suggestions  of  an  use  which  may 
be  very  properly  made  of  it,  by  applying  the  prin- 
ciple, and  some  part  of  the  mode,  of  the  regula- 
tion, to  those  transactions  in  your  General  Court, 
which  take  up  the  consideration  and  decision  of 
matters  of  property.  I  am  not  a  little  proud  of 
the  share  I  had  in  this  matter. 

The  day  which  I  had  fixed  upon  for  my  mo- 
tion, for  taking  "  the  state  of  his  Majesty's  gov- 
ernment in  North  America "  into  consideration, 
proves  to  be  the  day  fixed  for  a  grand  masquer- 
ade, so  that  it  would  have  been  impossible  to 
have  got  an  attendance.  I  have  been  therefore 
forced  to  put  it  off  to  May  the  2nd.  Upon  the 
subject  of  this  motion,  I  shall  write  you  a  letter 
by  itself.     I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

T.    POWNALL. 

The  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper. 

P.  S.  —  This  motion  of  Mr.  Trecothick  quite 
put  off  the  possibility  of  the  motion  which  I  had 
in  contemplation  to  make,  for  rendering  the  duty 
on  tea  temporary  —  to  last  as  long  as  the  agree- 


1  The  Grenville  Act,  10  Geo.  III.  c.  16.  — F.  G. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


265 


ment  between  the  East  India    Company,  and 
Treasury  lasts,  and  then  to  cease  and  determine. 


LETTER   XVII. 

Dear  Sir  :  —  There  is  not  a  clearer  proposi- 
tion in  the  world  than  the  following,  —  nor  any 
precedent  which  can  arise  in  the  administration 
of  the  British  constitution,  as  that  which  deviates 
from  the  truth  and  right  of  it,*  viz.  —  The  su- 
preme military  command  is  inseparably  and  es- 
seniiaJly  anv-exed  to  the  King,  his  heirs  and  suc- 
cessors. Kings  and  Queens  of  Great  Britain. 
This  supreme  military  command  never  has  been, 
and  never  can  be  separated  from  this  supreme 
civil  office  of  King,  within  the  realm. 

Whenever  this  office  has  been  delegated,  as  to 
the  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland,  and  to  the  King's 
locum  tenentes  in  America,  the  supreme  military 
command  has  always  been  inseparably  annexed 
to  it.  It  can  never  be  otherwise.  The  manner 
in  which  all  the  constitutions  upon  the  continent 


1  The  meaning  of  this  passage  is  far  from  being  clear.    May  it 

not  be  better  expressed  thus :  " nor  can  any  precedent  arise, 

in  the  [course  of  the]  administration  of  the  British  constitution, 
from  that  which  deviates  from  the  truth  and  right  of  the  proposi- 
tion."—F.  G. 


266 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


in  Europe  have  lost  their  liberty,  has  been,  in 
sufTering  the  authority  of  the  supreme  military 
power,  although  united  in  the  same  person,  to 
run,  in  the  actual  exercise  of  it,  in  two  distinct 
and  incommunicable  lines,  by  which  power  and 
command  have  superseded  civil  authority,  and 
become  not  only  independent  of,  but  paramount 
to  the  civil  constitution. 

It  is  a  mistake  to  imagine  that  the  civil  con- 
stitutions of  those  countries  which  have  lost  their 
liberties  are  changed ;  —  tho  constitutions,  in  the- 
ory and  right,  remain  as  free  as  ever,  and  some 
of  them  more  so  than  even  our  British  constitu- 
tion. But  the  military  being  the  only  poiver^  and 
separated  from,  and  incommunicable  with  the 
civil  avthoYlty^  the  civil  constitution  is  under  an 
absolute  paralysis.  In  this  light  of  danc^er,  I 
view  the  precedent  which  may  arise  froi.  the 
present  peace  establishment  of  the  military  com- 
mand in  America,  separated  from  —  incommu- 
nicable with  —  and  paramount  to  the  supreme 
civil  magistrate,  the  King's  hfmm  tenens  in  each 
province. 

It  is  therefore  to  obviate  this  danger  that  a  mo- 
tion will  be  made,  to  have  this  matter  particu- 
larly considered,  in  the  consideration  of  the  state 
of  the  King^s  government  in  America,  which  comes 
on,  on  the  2d  of  May. 

A  matter  relative  to  this  point  has  come  before 
the  Court  of  King's  Bench  here. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


267 


A  dispute  arising  in  "West  Florida  between 
Governor  Johnstone  and  Lieutenant-colonel 
Walsh,  commandant  of  the  troops  there,  as  to 
the  command  of  the  garrison  and  the  troops,  it 
went  to  those  lengths,  that  Lt.  Col.  Walsh  finally 
refusing  to,  and  withholding  from  Gov  'or 
Johnstone,  the  command  which  he  th  ^^ht 
his  commission  gave  him,  and  which  no  military 
commission  had,  or  could  take  from  him,  until 
the  commission  was  superseded,  he  [Gov.  J.]  ar- 
rested Lt.  Col.  Walsh.  Lt.  Col.  Walsh  brought 
his  action  in  the  King's  Bench  against  Governor 
Johnstone,  for  fake  imprisonment,  —  but  upon 
the  powers  which  Governor  Johnstone's  commis- 
sion gave  him,  and  those  which  Lt.  Col.  Walsh 
claimed  by  delegation,  under  General  Gage's 
commission,  being  explained  at  the  opening,  Lt. 
Col.  Walsh's  council  *  (from  a  suggestion  coming 
with  some  authority)  suffered  a  non-suit,  as  not 
having  legal  cause  of  action.  This  matter, 
being  so  decided,  even  by  the  non-suit,  would  it 
not  be  the  most  unexceptionable  ground  of  pro- 
ceeding, the  least  liable  to  inconvenience  or  dan- 
ger of  any  kind,  the  most  respectful  to  the  King's 

1  r.ounci/  for  Connsel.  This  affords  another  slight  indication 
of  the  Governor's  identity  with  Junius.  In  the  Preface  twice, 
and  in  each  of  the  letters  Ixiii.  and  Ixviii.,  once,  of  his  original 
edition,  (v.  I,  pp.  xix.  and  xxii.,  and  v.  2,  pp.  292  and  335,)  Ju- 
nius wrote  council  for  counsel.  The  latter  spelling  was  substituted 
in  G.  WoodfuU's  edition  of  1814  (vol.  i.  372  and  376,  and  vol.  ii. 
389and429).  — F.  G. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


■50  ■■^     ^HB 

u»  iiii   12.2 
S  KS  120 

■yuu 

U    IL6 


—    6" 


KiotDgraphic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WfST  MAIN  STRCET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)872-4503 


^ 


268 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


commission,  the  most  safe  to  the  military  officers 
and  commanders,  the  least  liable  to  create  fresh 
matter  of  dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  her 
colonies,  if  a  case  was  made  (arising  out  of  some 
actually  existing  transaction),  as  is  done  in  many 
cases,  to  try  a  right,  and  to  have  this  matter  fairly 
and  dispassionately  discussed,  by  a  special  jury 
in  your  Courts  of  law,  —  and  then,  upon  the 
ground  of  such  decision,  wherever  the  right  shall 
be  found  to  be,  to  apply,  by  the  great  and  Gen- 
eral Court,  or  by  the  two  Houses,  to  the  King,  in 
a  dutiful  and  respectful  address,  to  have  this 
matter  of  right  considered  ?  — 

In  forming  such  case,  these  matters  must  be 
attended  to;  —  that  it  comes  up  to  the  point, 
that  the  military  command  in  dispute  exists 
where  the  King  has  by  charter,  and  his  commis- 
sion, delegated  the  royal  powers  of  supreme  civil 
magistrate,  —  that  therefore,  the  proving  that  the 
command  of  the  military  derives  from  the  Kingi 
is  not  to  the  point  in  question,  unless  it  derives 
from  the  King,  throvgh  these  delegated  powers. 

Care  also  must  be  had,  that  the  case  be  not 
stated  on  any  act,  which  the  military  commander 
is  authorised  to  do,  or  to  order  to  be  done,  in 
consequence  of  the  mutiny  bill;  but  the  distinc- 
tion must  at  the  same  time  be  observed,  that 
many  acts  and  commands  are  authorised  by  that 
law  to  derive  from  the  King  within  the  realm, 
which  must, /or  the  same  reason^  derive  from  the 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


269 


civil  Governor  without  the  realm  (and  not  from 
the  King),  as  supreme  civil  magistrate  within 
such  respective  jurisdiction. 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  your  affectionate  friend, 

and  faithful  servant. 


LETTER   XVIII. 


London,  Albemarle  street,  May  11,  1770. 

Dear  Sir:  —  I  received  and  am  much  obliged 
to  you  for  your  letter  of  the  26th  and  27th  of 
March. 

My  letters  to  the  Committees  of  the  town  c^ 
Boston  give  the  best  account,  I  can  ascertain,  of 
the  effects  which  the  notice  of  the  late  catastrophe 
at  Boston  had,  and  have  here.  I  have  been  so 
explicit  and  open,  that  I  have  not  left  myself  any 
thing  to  add  in  this  private  and  confidential  let- 
ter to  my  private  friend. 

I  own  I  do  feel  no  little  satisfaction  in  the  suc- 
cess of  the  motion  I  made ;  fey  although  it  did 
not  pass,  yet  it  carried  its  effect,  and  went  off 
upon  no  other  ground  —  and  upon  that  ground 
only  —  that  the  Crown  had  (upon  doubts  arising 
in  point  of  law,  etc.,  etc.)  given  directions  for 
every  thing  to  be  done  that  this  address  could 


270 


JUNIUS  DISCOVBRBD. 


desire.  The  Lord  Mayor  seconded  the  motion, 
and  spoke  as  his  free  and  independent  spirit 
always  leads  him  to  do,  for  the  freedom  of  the 
subject,  and  the  political  liberty  of  the  state.  He 
showed,  that  the  motion  was  grounded  in  fact 
and  in  law,  and  desired  nothing  that  could  be 
refused.  He  therefore  called  upon  ministry, 
either  to  make  some  one  objection  to  it,  or  to  let 
it  go.i 

Colonel  Barr^,  upon  the  ministry  declaring 
that  the  thing  desired  by  the  address  was  already 
ordered  to  be  done,  said  —  he  was  glad  to  hear 
it,  but  added,  that  as  ministers  had  let  this  mat- 
ter sleep  so  many  years,  amidst  so  much  danger, 
and  had  never  thought  of  it,  nor  would  ever  have 
taken  it  up,  if  they  had  not  been  driven  to  it 
within  this  month,  by  the  notice  which  the  gen- 
tleman (who  now  made  the  motion)  had  given, 
of  his  intending  to  make  it,  six  weeks  ago,  the 
public,  the  colonies,  nay  —  ministers  themselves 
(whatever  they  might  be  willing  to  think  of  it), 
were  much  obliged  to  this  gentleman,  and  to  him 


1  The  Lord  Mayor  here  mentioned  was  Mr.  Beckford,  whose 
celebrated  reply  to  the  King  is  perpetuated,  not  only  in  history, 
but  by  being  engraved  on  the  monument  erected  to  his  memory, 
by  the  city  of  London,  in  Guildhall.  This  letter  is  dated  only 
twelve  days  before  that  reply  was  given.  —  The  Governor's  mode 
of  expression  —  "some  one  objection,'*  finds  parallels  in  Junius's 
Dedication  —  "  no  one  man  in  office,"  —  "  answers  no  one  purpose  of 
r&il  power,"  —  and  Letter  L,  "  nor  any  one  important  measure  "  — 
etc.— F.  G. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERBD. 


271 


alone,  for  stirring  and  bringing  forward,  and  now 
discussing  this  point 

Sir  George  Saville  declared,  in  still  stronger 
terms,  the  same  thing,  —  saying — that  as  there 
was  no  possibility  for  ministry  to  make  any  ob- 
jection, either  to  the  matter  —  the  manner  —  or 
the  purport  of  the  motion,  so  he  was  glad  to  find 
them  admitting  the  matter,  and  declaring  that 
orders  were  given  to  the  same  purport. 

General  Conway  said,  that  as  we  were  all 
agreed  as  to  the  ground  and  purport  of  the  mo- 
tion, and  as  ministry  had  so  solemnly  declared, 
that  orders  were  given  to  have  the  point  of  law 
considered  —  the  matter  revised  on  that  basis, 
and  that  every  thing  was,  by  that,  intended  to  be 
done  which  the  address  desired,  the  carrying  up 
the  address  would,  under  such  circumstances,  be- 
come disrespectful  to  the  King,  —  and  that  he  was 
on  that  account,  and  that  only,  against  the  motion. 

The  matter  came  thus  to  a  short  issue.  Mr. 
Serjeant  Glynn,  although  ill  in  a  fit  of  the  gout, 
came  down  to  support  the  cause.  Mr.  Dunning, 
by  some  mistake,  being  told  that  I  was  not  to 
move  it  tjiat  day,  was  not  there,  but  meant  to 
have  been  there,  and  has  since  lamented  to  me 
that  he  was  not. 

Mr.  Cornwall  was  of  opinion  with  me;  —  and 
Mr.  Dowdeswell,  had  not  my  Lord  Mayor  have 
done  it,  would  have  seconded  the  motion. 

I  had  many  difficulties  at  first,  to  get  even  so 


272 


JUNIUS  BISOOVBRED. 


far  as  to  bring  on  my  motion ;  but  amidst  all  its 
difficulties,  it  has  had  the  best  issue  of  any  thing 
which  has  been  moved  this  session,  having  car- 
ried its  point,  although  not  carried  itself.  En- 
closed are  some  of  the  arguments  I  used,  —  but  I 
have  not  time  [to  give]  either  a  particular,  or  a  full 
account  of  what  I  said.  I  went  into  a  large  dis- 
cussion of  the  causes  of  the  discontents  —  pointed 
out  the  doubts  conceived,  and  the  apprehensions 
felt,  —  as  the  people  of  the  Massachusetts  were 
the  people  whose  case  was  more  particularly  in 
question,  I  went  into  a  long  eulogium  of  their 
affection  to  the  mother-country  —  their  loyalty  to 
the  King  —  their  zeal  for  the  service,  —  I  men- 
tioned Quebec,  1711  —  N.  Scotia  for  a  series  of 
years  —  Louisbourg,  1747  —  Beausejour  —  the 
united  expedition  to  Ci-own- Point — their  setting 
the  example  in  raising  men  at  the  requisition  of 
the  Crown,  instead  of  2300  as  a  quota  of  7,000, 
7,000  men  for  their  quota  —  the  300  men  sent  to 
the  fleet  —  the  King  George  —  the  Snow  sloop 
—  their  raising  80,000  per  ann.  during  the  war  — 
and  a  design  which  I  had  concerted,  and  [which] 
would  have  been  gone  into,  by  the  zeal  of  the 
people,  and  their  love  for  their  mother-country, 
that  if  the  French  had  actually  landed  men  in 
England,  the  New-Englanders  would  have  come 
to  their  [the  mother-country's]  assistance,  —  but 
said  —  how  are  matters  now  changed,  when  we 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


373 


11  its 

thing 

;  car- 
En- 

butl 

afuU 

re  dis- 

Dinted 

nsions 

I  were 

irly  in 

f  their 

alty  to 

[  men- 

;ries  of 
—  the 

setting 

ion  of 
7,000, 

Isent  to 
sloop 
war  — 
|which] 
of  the 
luntry, 
en  in 
|e  come 
—  but 
en  we 


here  are  sending  an  army  to  ensure  the  affection 
and  obedience  of  these  very  people ! 

The  withdrawing  of  the  troops,  and  the  de- 
claration of  the  ministry,  supersede  all  necessity 
and  occasion  for  the  advice  which  I  forwarded 
to  you  by  Mr.  Elliot. 

I  find  that  my  speech  was  taken  down  in  short- 
hand, and  that  a  copy  is  got  abroad,  though  I 
cannot  learn  where :  —  'tis  most  likely  you'll  see 
or  hear  of  it,  so  I  shall  not  now  enclose  the  little 
imperfect  abstract,  which  by  the  bye,  I  have  not 
time  to  copy.  I  never  heard  —  till  yesterday  on 
meeting  Mr.  Bollan  by  accident  —  that  Captain 
Gardner  was  to  leave  town  today ;  and  this  day 
Mr.  Bollan  sends  me  word,  that  Captain  Gard- 
ner will  call  on  me  this  evening,  between  six  and 
seven.  You  may  guess  then  —  as  well  as  by  my 
writing  —  of  the  hurry  in  which  I  am  reduced  to 
write.  ♦ 

Make  my  respects  to  Mr.  Bowdoin,  and  my 
excuse,  that  I  am  not  able  to  answer  his  private 
letter. 

You'll  excuse  me  also  to  your  Brother,  to  whom 
I  desire  my  respects.  Remember  me  to  all 
fjriends.        I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

T.    POWNALL. 

I  sent  to  Mr.  Bollan  a  copy  of  the  address 
which  I  proposed.     I  suppose  he  will  transmit  it. 

18 


274 


JUNIUS  DISOOVEREO. 


LETTER    XIX. 


Duplicate. 


London,  July  11,  '70. 
Dear  Sir:  —  There  have  now  arrived  three 
ships  —  the  Susannah  Johnson,  the  Lydia  Scott, 
and  the  Thomas  Davis,^  by  none  of  which  have 
I  received  one  letter  from  Boston.  I  mention 
this  only,  that  if  you,  or  any  of  my  friends,  have 
written  any,  you  and  they  may  be  informed,  that 
such  have  been  stopped.  I  here  am  marked  by 
Government  as  the  American  partizan  in  gen- 
eral;—  and  on  this  occasion  particularly.  Gov- 
ernment has  had  information  given  to  them,  that 
the  renewal  of  the  Associations  for  non-importa- 
tion is  entirely  owing  to  the  letters  that  Dr. 
Franklin  and  I  have  written,  —  that  I,  particu- 
larly, wrote  this  special  advice,  that  the  sending 
back  a  few  of  the  goods  imported  contrary  to  the 
Associations,  -y^ould  have  more  effect  in  Great 
Britain,  than  a  hundred  resolutions  not  to  import, 
however  firmly  adhered  to,  —  and  that,  in  conse- 
quence of  this  advice,  those  goods  which  have 
come  back  were  returned.  Mr.  Haley  has  had 
letters  from  Boston,  saying  expressly,  that  it  is 


1  July  30.     I  may  now  add — the  Hannah,  Capt.  Jervis.- 
{Gov.  P.) 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


275) 


owing  to  letters  in  which  I  say,  that  if  the  Amer- 
icans had  kept  firm  and  unanimous  not  to  import, 
the  whole  of  the  revenue  law  would  have  been 
repealed.  This  has  been  written  by  some  false 
brethren,  who  wanted  an  excuse  for  sending  back 
the  goods  which  they  had  ordered,  contrary  to 
their  own  agreement.  In  like  manner,  you 
and  Mr.  Bowdoin  are  represented  here,  as  the 
principal  springs,  managers,  and  conductors, 
on  your  side  the  water,  of  the  opposers.  There 
are  numbers  of  bad  people  here,  running  about 
with  such  reports  and  representations.  You 
are  charged,  even  in  our  newspapers,  with  be- 
ing the  author  of  the  Abingdon  resolves.  I 
did  not  think  the  matter  deserved  any  strict  in- 
quiry who  was  the  author,  so  can  only  guess. 
Friend  Cummings  told  me,  that  one  Sindeman, 
living  in  New  England,  was  the  writer  of  some 
of  the  papers  published  under  the  signature  of 
Veritas,  I  have  heard  Mein  also  mentioned,  biit 
there  are  others  also.  Whoever  the  writer  is,  he 
affects  to  be  well  informed  of  affairs  at  Boston, 
in  order  to  give  authority  to  abuse.  He  signs 
himself  Veritas,  by  the  same  analogy,  I  suppose, 
as  the  grammarians  say  lucus  is  so  called  a  non 
lucendo.  It  has  also  been  suggested,  or  rather 
whispered,  that  Mr.  Bowdoin  had  a  hand  in  draw- 
ing the  Boston  instructions.  In  like  manner  as 
some  of  the  best  friends  of  the  public  on  your 
side  the  water  —  such  as  most  wish,  and  could 


276 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


best  lead  matters  to  a  reconciliation,  was  there  a 
temper  on  this  side  disposed  to  meet  it — are  driv- 
en from  the  confidence,  opinion,  and  communica* 
tion  which  Government  ought  to  have  with  them : 
—  so  some  of  your  truest  and  most  disinterested 
friends,  such  as  in  these  affairs  form  no  connec- 
tions of  party  but  with  yourselves,  and  that  on 
the  ground  of  the  general  civil  liberty  of  mankind 
to  be  maintained  in  your  case,  are  misrepresented 
and  obstructed  in  their  full  communication  and 
connexion  with  the  friends  of  liberty  on  your 
side.  It  is  ,the  interest  of  agents,  and  runners  of 
parties,  that  such  should  be  removed  from  your 
confidence.  Interested  dealers  also,  whose  only 
connexion  with  your  interest  is  the  profit  they 
can  derive  from  it,  cannot  wish  you  to  stand 
upon  your  own  interest  otherwise  than  as  subser- 
vient to  theirs.  But  my  opinion  is,  that  your 
interest  will  stand  firmest  when  set  on  its  own 
basis,  and  that  you  will  receive  the  truest  advice, 
and  most  genuine  assistance,  from  such  as  have 
no  connexion  with  either  parties  or  dealers. 

There  is  one  caution  more,  which  I  cannot  but 
think  right  to  suggest,  that  you  be  particularly 
cautious  to  distinguish  those  motions  and  reason- 
ings which  point  only  to  an  attack  upon  ministry, 
on  their  conduct  in  American  affairs,  from  those 
which  take  up  propositions  and  truths  to  bring 
them  forward,  so  as  to  form  a  safe,  firm,  and  sure 
foundation  whereon  the  political  rights  and  lib- 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


277 


erty  of  the  American  constitutions  may  be  estab- 
lished. Seeing  the  importance  —  nay,  the  neces- 
sity of  this  advice,  and  fearing  that  it  is  not 
rightly  understood,  I  could  wish  to  enlarge  more 
upon  it;  but  if  I  am  once  misunderstood,  the 
more  I  say,  the  further  I  shall  fall  bacic  in  a  lee- 
current.     I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Most  affectionately  your  friend, 

T.    PoWNALIi. 

The  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper. 

P.  8.  —  You  will  have  read  in  the  newspapers, 
and  perhaps  have  had  it  written  to  Boston,  that 
there  were  thoughts  of  my  being  appointed  Gov- 
ernor. In  the  first  place,  I  would  not  accept  any 
post  whatever  in  America  under  the  present  sys- 
tem of  Government: — in  the  next  place.  Ministry 
are  too  well  informed  of  my  sentiments,  and  too 
angry  with  me,  ever  to  make  me  any  offer  or 
proposal. 


LETTER    XX. 


London,  July  14/70. 

Dear  Sir  :  —  I  have  written  a  general  public 
letter  to  the  gentlemen.  Committees  of  the  town 
of  Boston,  which  I  have  sent  to  my  good  and 


278 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


worthy  friend,  Mr.  Bowdoin,  desiring  him  to 
communicate  it  I  had  originally  drawn  it  up  in 
a  form  much  more  explicit  and  pointed,  marking 
in  the  way  the  springs  and  motives,  as  well  as 
the  outward  and  visible  effects  of  the  scheme  of 
our  present  ministers ;  but  upon  consulting  with 
an  intimate  friend,  a  great  lawyer,  he  advised  me 
to  more  caution,  as,  he  said,  he  knew  I  was 
marked,  and  that  if  ministry  meant  to  lye  ^  upon 
the  watch,  to  charge  the  Boston ians  with  sedi- 
tion, etc.,  etc.,  they  might,  by  an  old  maxim  of 
law,  construe  my  letter,  although  it  did  not  cpn- 
tain  one  syllable  that  was  actionable,  into  con- 
spiracy with  such  sedition^  etc.,  and  so  make  me 
an  imaginary  confederate  in  imaginary  crimes.  — 
And  although  no  process  in  the  law-courts  could 
establish  any  such  crimes,  yet  violent  resolutions 
of  some  violent  party,  in  some  other  house  or 
court,  might  be  equally  ruinous.  The  difficulties 
do  really  cut  off  from  that  fair  communication 
and  information  of  the  real  state  of  things,  by 
which  many  mischiefs  might  be  warded  off,  and 
much  good  be  brought  to  gather  toward  the  rec- 
onciliation of  contending  parties.  These  diffi- 
culties had  almost  determined  me  to  make  a  trip 
this  summer  to  America,  and  would  have  wholly 
so  fixed  it,  had  not  family  domestic  connexions 


*  In  the  original  edition  of  Jnnins's  Letters,  (v.  1.  p.  65,  and  p. 
171,  in  note,)  the  noun  lie  is  spelled  lye. — F.  6. 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


279 


I 


of  happiness,  which  must  have  been  sacrifieed  to 
pain,  and  to  perhaps  worse  consequences,  inter- 
posed. However,  if  these  can  be  settled  on  any 
plan  on  which  I  can  be  justifyed  to  my  own  heart, 
I  will  make  that  trip  next  summer.  If  I  were 
single,  there  is  nothing  which  I  would  not  sacri- 
fice, to  obviate  and  prevent  mischiefs  which  I 
think  will  certainly  fall  upon  both  countries,  but 
perhaps  first  on  America.  They  will  spring  from 
a  spirit  ignorant  of  the  principles  of  colonies,  and 
colony  administration ;  from  a  violent  temper 
that  calls  all  opposition  to  such  spirit  Sedition,  at 
least,  if  not  Rebellion ;  and  charges  all  interposi- 
tion as  conspiracy  and  confederacy  with  such 
prejudged  sedition.  Be  that  as  it  may,  I  shall, 
in  this  private  letter  to  my  friend,  be  as  explicit 
as  the  nature  of  things  will  permit :  —  And  first, 
I  do  affirm,  that  if  the  plan  of  ministry  is,  that 
the  governors,  and  the  civil  government  of  the 
colonies,  shall  no  longer  be,  as  they  have  always 
hitherto  been,  dependent  on  the  People  for  their 
support,  in  like  manner  as  the  King  and  his  gov- 
ernment are  dependent  on  the  people  for  their 
sii  "nort,  —  and  if  an  army  (no  longer  an  annual 
one  in  America)  is  to  be  kept  standing,  and  under 
discipline  beyond  the  year,  without  communica- 
tion with  the  will  of  the  community  wherein  it  is 
posted,  and  not  commanded  by  the  supreme  civil 
magistrate  of  the  jurisdiction  of  that  community, 
as  it  hath  always  hitherto  been,  —  and  if  the  forts, 


280 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


castles,  and  places  of  strength  are  to  be  taken 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  Governor,  the  King's 
legal  military  Commander-in-chief,  within  each 
respective  jurisdiction, — if  citadels  and  garrisons, 
under  this  mode  of  establishment,  are  to  be  fixed 
within  these  jurisdictions,  and  then,  because  you 
would  not  acquiesce  (although  you  have  obeyed 
the  laws,  and  paid  the  taxes)  in  a  system  of  tax- 
ation which  is  imposed  by  power,  instead  of 
grants  of  and  by  good  will,  and  do  object  to  the 
establishment  of  a  military  force,  which  you  think 
to  be  —  and  which  is  contrary  to  law,  while  it  is 
not  commanded  by  the  civil  [power],  —  I  say,  if 
then,  upon  these  grounds,  and  for  these  reasons, 
attended  by  such  circumstances,  your  charters  of 
government,  the  jurisdictions  of  your  civil  com- 
munity, are  to  be  attacked,  and  either  dissolved 
or  altered  at  pleasure,  as  any  administration  of 
the  government  of  the  mother-country  shall  from 
time  to  time  think  expedient,  and  shall  be  advised 
by  the  Crown  lawyers  belonging  to  such  minis- 
try, your  rights  and  privileges  are  no  longer  what 
you  always  understood  and  conceived  them  to  be, 
and  what  every  good  whig  will  still  think  them 
to  be. 

The  first  and  essential  principle  of  political  lib- 
erty (without  which  it  is  not),  is  —  "that  civil 
government  is  the  action  of  the  whole  body  op- 
erating on  itself:" —  this  is  what  I  call  interior 
or  internal  government :  —  this  is  what  in  the  in- 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


281 


dividual  forms  philosophic  liberty,  —  what  in  civil 
society  forms  political  liberty. 

As  it  may  be  thus  said  of  an  individual,  either 
a  man,  or  a  community  governing  itself,  so  may 
one  man  in  his  individual  capacity,  govern  an- 
other in  his  individual  capacity,  leaving  to  the 
governed  all  and  every  right,  privilege,  and  lib- 
erty which  constitutes  a  free  agent ;  —  so,  and  in 
like  manner,  may  one  supreme  comprehending 
community  govern  another  subordinate  compre- 
hended community,  by  a  sovereign  jurisdiction, 
which  yet  leaves  the  inferior  jurisdiction  all  and 
every  right,  privilege,  and  liberty  which  consti- 
tutes the  free  agency  of  a  political  state.  So 
long  as  the  governed  is  permitted  to  act  by  his 
own  powers  of  action,  and  by  a  communication 
and  intercourse  of  will,  notwithstanding  that  such 
subordination  and  obedience  are  as  of  the  es- 
sence, so  the  duty,  of  the  relation  in  which  the 
inferior  stands,  yet  the  subject  individual  remains 
free  —  yet  the  subordinate  community  retains  its 
political  freedom.  The  labourer  —  the  journey- 
man—  the  husbandman  is  thus  subordinate  — 
thus  obedient  to  his  employer,  but  is  not  thereby 
a  slave.  The  colony  likewise  is  thus  subordinate 
to  the  mother-country,  but  ceases  not,  by  that 
subordination,  to  have  "  freedom  of  will,  and  lib- 
erty of  action."  It  acts  by  those  powers  which 
constitute  a  free  agent ;  and  as  a  free  agent  its 
will  is  actuated  upon  from  the  duty  of  the  rela- 


282 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


tion  in  which  it  stands  to  the  mother-country :  — 
But  if  the  governing  individual  assumes  a  power 
over  the  action  and  will  of  the  governed  individ- 
ual, exterior  to  those  powers  which  constitute  his 
free  agency,  —  if  he  operates  upon  him  by  mere 
force,  —  if  he  admits  no  communication  of  will, 
—  if  he  considers  the  governed,  and  all  his  ac- 
tions, and  all  the  effect  of  his  actions,  that  is  to 
say,  all  his  property  created  by  his  labour,  so 
much  the  property  of  the  governing  that  the  other 
can  have  no  right  to  act,  or  to  enjoy  the  fruit  of 
hi^  own  action,  that  subordinate  individual  is  in 
an  absolute  state  of  slavery:  —  His  will,  His 
power  of  acting.  His  property,  is  not  his  own ; 
all  right,  all  power  over  these,  is  exterior  to  his 
being.  I  therefore  call  this  government  external 
or  exterior^  by  force. 

There  is  also  an  exterior  government  of  right, 
as  thus :  —  Whilst  any  individual  is  not  in  a  state 
of  reason,  —  * "  is  in  a  state  wherein  he  has  no 
"  understanding  of  his  own  to  direct  his  will,  he  is 
"  not  to  have  any  will  of  his  own  to  follow :  He 
"  that  understands  for  him  must  will  for  him  too ; 
"  he  must  prescribe  to  his  will,  and  direct  his  ac- 
"  tions."  1    This  is  the  government  of  a  father  over 


*  Mr.  Locke. 

1  Junius,  in  his  original  edition,  as  well  as  Gov.  P.,  invariably 
prefixed  the  inverted  commas  to  every  line  of  a  quotation.  This 
peculiarity  was  not  observed,  until  the  preceding  pages  had  been 
corrected  in  the  press,  which  will  account  for  our  having  over- 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


283 


I  I 


iably 
This 
been 
over- 


his  son  during  his  minority,  of  a  guardian  over 
an  ideot,  or  a  lunatic.  This  is  the  government 
of  a  mother-country  over  a  colony,  before  it  is 
formed  into  a  state  of  civil  community  and  gov- 
ernment, that  is,  before  it  is  in  a  state  to  have  an 
understanding  and  will  of  its  own.  The  mother- 
country  wills  for  it,  prescribes  and  regulates  its 
actions,  and  disposes  of  its  property.  This  also 
is  exterior  government.  But,  as  in  the  case  of  a 
child  the  moment  he  comes  to  a  state  of  matu- 
rity, the  moment  that  the  ideot  ^  or  the  lunatic  re- 
covers his  understanding,  the  exterior  government 
of  the  parent  and  guardian  ceases ;  so  of  a  colo- 
ny, —  if  by  positive  grant  or  charter,  or  by  iiri- 
plyed  right,  from  the  nature  of  the  political  liberty 
of  the  state  from  whence  it  derived,  from  the  na- 
ture of  the  constituents  of  the  community  itself, 
it  is  in  a  situation  to  have  "  freedom  of  will,  and 
liberty  of  action,"  the  moment  that  it  is  from  pos- 
itive grant,  or  by  right  of  derivation,  or  the  abso- 
lute right  of  its  own  nature,  a  free  agent,  from 
that  moment  exterior  government,  as  founded  in 
right,  ceases ;  the  mother-country,  still  retaining 
its  sovereignty,  has  the  power  of  government  over 

looked  the  omission  of  the  full  number  of  inverted  commas  from 
the  quotation  on  p.  239.  —  F.  G. 

1  This  is  the  second  time  in  this  paragraph,  that  the  Governor 
spells  this  word  ideot.  The  same  spelling  will  be  found  twice  in 
vol.  2,  of  Junius's  original  edition,  pp.  87  and  229.  In  the  latter 
instance  only,  it  is  corrected  in  G.  Woodfall's  edition  of  1814,  to 
idiot.— F.  G. 


284 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


the  colony,  —  the  colony  of  righi^  and  by  duly 
subject  and  subordinate  to  the  government  of  the 
mother-country.  But  the  government  must  be 
interior ;  and  therefore,  although  the  government 
of  the  mother-country  constitutes  the  executive 
povirer  of  the  colony  by  its  commissions,  and  re- 
tains a  restraining  and  negativing  power  over  its 
will,  yet  it  leaves  it  to  form  its  own  will,  and  to 
act  by  all  those  powers  which  constitute  it  a  free 
agent.  If  the  mother-country  were  to  say,  that 
the  colonies  have  no  right  to  have  a  will,  as  was 
the  case  before  they  were  in  a  state  of  civil  gov- 
ernment—  before  they  were  erected  into  prov- 
inces, and  that  therefore  they  should  not  have  a 
representative  assembly,  but  should  be  governed 
by  the  King  in  Council,  or  by  the  Governor  and 
a  Council  appointed  by  the  Crown;  —  or  if  (the 
establishment  of  a  representative  assembly  re- 
maining) that  assembly  should  from  time  to  time 
be  suspended ;  —  if  the  mother-country  restrain- 
ing tryals  per  pais  should  say,  that,  in  particular 
enumerated  cases,  we  will  take  the  accused  and 
try  them  within  the  realm,  or  by  judges  of  an  ex- 
terior jurisdiction,  without  the  interposition  of 
juries,  and  the  jurisdiction  of  the  country;  —  if 
the  office  of  Governor  were  so  restrained  by  sub- 
sequent instructions,  that  he  was  no  longer  that 
efficient  magistrate  which  of  right,  from  the  na- 
ture of  the  government,  and  of  his  office,  he  ought 
to  be,  and  which  the  people,  so  framed  into  a 


go 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


285 


government,  have  a  right  to  require  him  to  be ; 
—  if  the  community  were  acted  upon  by  a  force 
ab  extra,  which  was  not  the  force  of  the  commu- 
nity, whiclj  was  not  commanded  by  the  supreme 
civil  magistrate  of  the  jurisdiction ;  and  if  such 
an  exterior  force,  under  such  a  predicament,  were 
attempted  to  be  established  within  the  limits  of 
the  jurisdiction  of  such  a  free  agent,  the  govern- 
ment would  be  exterior,  and  if  not  of  right,  then 
of  force ;  and  so  being  arbitrary  and  despotic,  the 
colony  would  be  put  exactly  in  the  case  of  the 
slave  above  described. 

In  like  manner  even  within  the  realm,  all  gov- 
ernment can  be  no  longer  free  than  while  the  will 
of  the  government  is  the  collective  will  of  the 
whole  community,  and  the  power  of  the  govern- 
ment only  the  united  force  of  the  community : 
so  if  any  other  will  than  the  laws,  which  are  this 
collective  will,  or  any  force,  deriving  from  any 
other  source  than  that  of  the  supreme  civil  mag- 
istrate, attempts  to  govern,  that  is  exterior  gov- 
ernment. 

1  shall  this  summer  write  a  treatise  on  this 
proposition,  which  distinguishes  interior  from  ex- 
terior government,  and  points  out  all  the  cases  as 
they  derive  from  this  distinction,  which  I  hope 
may  have  a  tendency  to  open  the  eyes  of  those 
who  think  (however  zealous  they  may  imagine 
themselves  to  be  for  political  liberty  within  the 
realm),  that  the  constitution  does  not  require 


286 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


that  interior  government  be  applyed  to  any  com- 
munity in  partibus  exleris^  without  the  realm. 
Such  proposition,  if  I  shall  be  able  to  explain  it 
with  the  conviction  #iat  I  feel,  if  it  does  not 
convert  your  enemies  may,  I  hope,  put  the  reason 
and  conduct  of  yoiir  friends  on  some  fixed  basis. 
I  am  sure  that  if  the  Americans  felt  the  ground, 
and  saw  the  extent  of  it,  their  reason  and  con- 
duct would  be  more  fixed,  uniform,  and  united, 
in  pursuit  of  that  political  liberty,  which  it  is  of 
the  essence  of  the  constitution  of  the  mother- 
pountry  to  establish  amongst  them. 
I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

T.    POWNALL. 

The  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper. 


LETTER   XXI. 


LoNDOX,  July  21,  '70. 
Dear  Sir:  —  As  I  know  it  will  be  a  pleasure 
done  to  yourself,  and  may  be  of  great  advantage 
to  my  friends  at  Boston,  and  in  the  Province,  to 
bring  Commodore  Gambler  and  yourself  ac- 
quainted, I  beg  to  introduce  him  as  my  friend  to 
your  particular  acquaintance.  I  am  sure  you 
cannot  know  one  another  without  creating  a 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


287 


friendship,  and  to  such  I  recommend  you.  The 
Commodore  will  be  so  good  to  deliver  you  my 
letters.  I  beg  to  make  him  well  with  my  Mends ;  ^ 
—  he  wishes  it.     I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

T.    POWNALL. 

The  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper. 


)  I 


LETTER  XXII. 


Albemarle  street,  Londox,  June  7, 1771. 
Dear  Sir  :  —  I  was  favored  with  your  several 
letters,  and  delayed  answering  them,  as  the  points 
on  which  they  chiefly  turned  were  kept  in  sus- 
pense by  the  state  of  business,  both  on  your  side 
the  water,  and  also  here  —  from  the  nature  of 
every  matter  which  becomes  the  subject  of  par- 
liamentary discussion,  whilst  Parliament  is  sit- 
ting. The  session  is  now  over,  and  not  one  sin- 
gle point,  either  by  ministry,  or  by  those  who 
oppose  it,  has  been  brought  forward  relative  to 
the  constitution  of  the  Provinces,  or  to  the  rights 

1  " to  make  him  well  with  my  friends : "    A  parallel  for  this 

somewhat  peculiar  mode  of  expression,  will  bo  found  in  the 
"Letter  to  a  Brigadier  General,  etc.,"  p.  19  :  —  "Did  Lord  George 
imagine,  that  the  reputation  of  being  well  with  the  great  minister, 
would  bear  him  ....  to  the  highest  pinnacle  of  military 
glory?"— F.  G. 


288 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


of  the  Americans.  There  is  a  tide  in  the  affairs 
of  men;  and  when  that  tide  is  once  turned, 
things  flow  down  with  something  like  a  fatality 
that  no  efforts  of  spirit  or  prudence  can  resist. 
Things  then  may  be  said  to  have  taken  their 
course;  and  those  who  wish  best  to  mankind, 
can  only  lye  by  for  such  events  as  may  present 
future  occasions  for  serving  them.  I  shall  always 
consider  myself  as  being  in  this  situation,  both 
with  regard  to  the  general  liberties  of  mankind, 
as  well  as  the  particular  interest  of  the  Province 
of  Massachusetts  Bay,  with  whose  affairs  my 
administration  naturally  connected  me. 

In  this  light,  even  from  general  motives,  I 
should  wish  the  uninterrupted  continuance  of 
our  mutual  correspondence;  but  the  affection 
which  my  friendship  towards  you  makes  me  feel, 
will  be  ever  a  most  irresistible  motive  for  wishing 
the  continuance  of  every  communication  that 
may  contribute  to  increase  it :  and  therefore,  I 
do  hope  that  we  may  neither  of  us  lose  any  op- 
portunity of  improving  that  friendly  intercourse 
which  has  subsisted  between  us,  from  my  first 
knowledge  of  you :  —  You  may  depend  upon  ev- 
ery attention  on  my  part  to  your  friends,  and  to 
your  recommendation  of  them. 

As  by  the  last  convention  between  England 
and  Spain,  an  end  is  put  for  the  present  to  the 
appearance  of  war  between  the  two  nations,  and 
as  nothing  seems  immediately  to  threaten  a  change 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


289 


rland 
the 
,and 
ange 


in  the  course  of  those  afTairs,  there  can  be  noth- 
ing new  in  them  to  impart  to  you.  It  is  also 
impossible  to  form  any  opinion,  what  will  be  the 
event  of  the  present  troubles  between  Russia  and 
Turkey,  which  still  continue  a  mixture  of  fight- 
ing and  negociation.  The  fighting  part  will  con- 
tinue, without  the  least  decisive  event  arising 
from  it,  until  it  shall  give  some  occasion  for  con- 
cluding the  negociation,  which,  in  my  opinion, 
would  have  been  concluded  long  ago,  was  there 
not  a  jealousy  between  the  different  Courts  of 
Europe,  which  should  have  the  management  of 
the  mediation  and  arbitration. 

If  any  alteration  in  the  present  course  of  af- 
fairs should  happen;  or  any  new  schemes  or 
systems  should  arise,  which  may  any  way  affect 
the  public  interests  of  the  province,  or  of  our 
friends  there,  I  shall  be  always  watchful  to  every 
motion,  and  communicate  every  sentiment  that 
such  impresses  upon  me ;  although  there  seems 
just  now,  no  great  reason  to.  expect  any  change 
in  thing's,  as  those  who  have  the  forming  and  di- 
rection of  persons  seem  thoroughly  founded  and 
established  in  their  power. 

I  beg  my  sincere  regards  and  respects  to  all 
our  friends,  and  that  you  will  be  so  good  as  to 
remember  me  to  them,  as  I  hope  I  am  remem- 
bered by  them.     I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

T.    POWNALL* 

19 


290 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


There  will  be  peace  between  Russia  and  Tur- 
key —  this  you  may  depend  on. 

To  the  Rev'd  S.  Cooper,  D.  D.,  Boston* 

[In  the  Duplicate^  which  immediately  follows 
the  above  letter^  the  information  contained  in  the 
postscript^  is  thus  thrown  into  a  paragraph  before 
the  sigTiature:] 

Since  the  transcribing  of  the  above,  I  am  pos- 
sessed of  a  fact  which  enables  me  to  tell  you, 
with  certainty,  that  there  will  be  peace  betwixt 
Russia  and  the  Turks. 

June  7,  '71,  London,  Albemarle  street. 


LETTER   XXIII. 

Richmond,  July  26,  '71. 

Dear  Sir  :  —  I  hope  you  received  safe  the  let- 
ters, which  I  had  the  pleasure  of  writing  to  you 
soon  after  the  recess  of  Parliament,  as  also  the 
Duplicates. 

Since  that,  I  have  not  been  favored  with  a  line 
from  you,  which  is  a  matter  of  uneasy  disap- 
pointment to  me.  I  not  only  miss  the  happiness 
I  enjoyed  in  the  intercourse  and  communication 
of  your  friendship,  but  I  remain  wholly  unin- 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


291 


ii 


formed  of  the  state  of  things  in  a  country  whose 
welfare  I  shall  ever  invariably  remain  anxious 
for,  and  watch  over,  as  far  as  power  enables  me 
to  serve  it.     Pray  let  me  hear  from  you. 

Reports  from  one  quarter  say,  that  the  Assem- 
bly, as  to  men,  are  the  same  individuals,  —  yet 
the  spirit  is  of  a  different  essence.  Government 
is  told,  that  all  is  quiet,  humble  and  submissive ; 
and  that  the  people  would  be  glad  to  receive  as 
a  favor,  and  ask,  and  hold  on  that  tenure,  matters 
which  they  have  hitherto  claime4  as  rights. 
Since  Government  hath  given  [up]  the  ascend- 
ancy of  civil  authority,  and  leant  on  military 
power,  I  think  the  case  equally  dangerous  to 
both  the  governing  as  well  as  governed.  One 
has  a  precarious  [power?]  that  in  its  nature  can 
be  but  temporary,  the  other  is  exposed  to  all  the 
consequences  of  anarchy.  Sat  sapienti  dictum, — 
otherwise,  I  could  expatiate  for  many  and  many 
a  melancholy  page  on  this  subject.  Until  some 
new  event  shall  give  a  new  spirit  of  government 
to  both  parties,  and  that  spirit  shall  actuate  an 
honest  people,  all  is  in  hazard,  I  had  almost  said 
—  at  random. 

Tempted  with  the  glare  of  false  characters,  too 
many  on  your  side  the  water  attached  themselves 
to  men,  and  the  seduction  of  party,  forgetting  all 
the  while  things  —  things  of  the  last  importance. 
Where  will  they  now  look  for  men  ?  the  enchant- 
ment is  broken — the  mask  is  off;  —  they  will 


^ 


JUNIUS  DISOOYERBD. 


view  them  in  the  true  characters  which  they  mu- 
tually give  of  each  other,  an4, —  it  is  a  sad  view 
to  see  things  as  they  are, 

I  do  not  despair  of  once  more  seeing  my  real 
friends  in  America ;  —  it  is  almost  a  fixed  purport 
in  my  mind,  to  make  the  tour  of  America  once 
more,  to  compare  on  the  spot  the  stage  and  pro- 
gress of  the  country :  —  but  that  must  be  some 
years  hence  —  if  ever.  Give  my  love  and  respects 
to  all  my  friends  in  your  circle,  and  accept  your- 
self the  tender  of  my  best  affections. 
J  I  am,  your  friend,  v 

Most  sincerely, 

T.    POWNALL. 

To  the  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper, 

at  Boston,  N.  America. 


LETTER   XXIV. 


BiCHMOND,  Sept.  3,  '71. 

Dear  Sir  :  —  It  is  long  —  at  least  I  think  it  so 
—  since  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  a  line  from 
you.  I  hope  you  have  received  my  several  let- 
ters ;  —  by  not  hearing  from  you  I  fear  it. 

In  my  last  I  acquainted  you  that  we  are  likely 
to  have,  before  this  time,  a  general  peace  m  Eu- 
rope.    Russia  and  the  Turks  might  easily  have 


JUNIUS    Dl.^f'OVERED. 


293 


made  up  their  quarrel,  for  all  that  Russia  desires, 
is  to  bind  the  Turks  to  an  observance  of  the  laws 
of  nations,  as  settled  amongst  the  European  pow- 
ers. And  even  necessity  itself  must  adduce  the 
Turks  to  this  system,  as  they  are  now  become 
part  of  the  great  Republic  of  European  States. 
But  Poland  cannot  govern  itself,  and  all  the 
neighbouring  [powers]  will  quarrel  who  shall 
govern  it.  The  Turks  think  that  the  Russians 
meddle  too  much,  and  thereby  grow  too  power- 
ful. Russia  does  not  seem  to  give  any  satisfac- 
tion on  that  head.  This  makes  Austria  think  it 
necessary  to  interfere ;  and  if  that  Court  does, 
Prussia  will  not  remain  neutral,  but  will  throw 
its  weight  into  the  opposite  scale.  France  is  en- 
gaged to  assist  Austria  to  a  stipulated  degree,  — • 
and  who  can  say  where  all  these  movements  can 
train? 

I  am  determined  to  be  silent  upon,  although 
not  forgetting  or  negligent  of  American  affairs. 
I  am,  at  my  leisure,  putting  together  some  ideas 
on  the  right  of  mankind  to  colonize,  and  the 
rights  of  colonies  so  emigrant,  when  settled  as 
distinct,  and  compleat^  communities;  but  whether 
I  shall  ever  finish  it,  or  whether,  when  finished,  I 
shall  ever  publish  it,  is  very  distant  from  my  pres- 
ent determination.     If  I  do,  I  shall  close  it  with 


1  Compleat:  —  Junius  always  so  spelled  the  word,  in  his  origi- 
nal edition.  See  v.  1,  pp.  117,  141,  159,  204,  281,  241.  — In  O. 
Woodfall's  edition,  it  is  corrected  to — complete.  —  F.  G. 


294 


JUNIUS    DISCOVERED. 


advice  to  colonies  that  shall  find  themselves  on 
the  point  the  most  dangerous  to  them. 

Dr.  Franklin  is  gone  on  a  tour  to  Ireland.  I 
have  been  here  all  summer  —  am  going  into  Lin- 
colnshire, my  usual  tour,  for  the  next  month,  and 
when  I  return,  shall,  I  fancy,  soon  after  go  to 
winter  residence  in  town.  Parliament  does  not 
meet,  unless  any  thing  extraordinary  happens, 
until  after  Christmas. 

I  beg  my  real  and  most  sincere  regards  to  Mr. 
Bowdoin, — pray  tell  him  I  will  hope  to  hear 
from  him,  as  I  most  certainly  do  hope  to  hear 
from  you.  Remember  me  most  kindly  to  all  my 
friends,  arid  believe  me  to  be  —  as  I  am  — 
Your's,  most  affectionately, 

♦  T.    POWNALL. 

The  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper, 

Boston,  New-England. 


LETTER    XXV. 


London,  April  5,  '72. 

Dear  Sir  :  —  I  will  add  —  dear  friend  —  for  I 
must  thank  you  as  such  for  your  kind  and  affec- 
tionate letters.  I  must  make  my  acknowledg- 
ments for  the  kind  and  more  than  friendly  man- 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


295 


ner  in  which  you  have  interested  yourself  for  my 
honor,  and  in  which  you  have  laboured,  that  jus- 
tice at  least  might  be  done  to  my  services,  while 
I  was  sincerely,  an(f^to  my  own  hurt,  labouring 
to  serve  the  province  and  the  people.  My  hu- 
manity was  for  a  moment  —  my  Lonour  could  not 
be  —  hurt,  —  my  utility  was  reniered  unuseful, 
and  was  frustrated :  —  in  that  I  felt  not  for  my- 
self, —  I  was  sorry  for  the  cause,  and  the  interest 
of  the  Province,  and  its  rights,  which  suftered  by 
it.  But  that  is  now  passed.  Let  us  view  the  pres- 
ent state  of  things,  for  I  will  still  persevere  wher- 
ever I  can ;  and  I  will  try  to  serve  the  Province, 
although  my  services  may  not  be  acceptable.^ 

In  order  to  keep  up  the  protest  against  the  mil- 
itary establishment,  which  hath  superseded  the 
civil,  I  moved  the  question  again  this  year.  The 
news  papers  got  part  of  my  speech,  although  but 
a  miserable  extract  of  the  part  which  they  did 
get,  and  not  one  half  of  the  real  argument,  and 
not  one  sentence  of  the  application  of  the  doc- 
trine. The  people  may  acquiesce,  but  I,  as  a 
friend,  never  will.  The  matter,  under  the  state 
of  acquiescence  with  which  the  people  sit  down, 
is  every  day  more  and  more  striking  root,  as  a 


1  "  In  the  present  state  of  things,  if  I  were  to  write  again,  I 
must  be,  etc.  ...  I  meant  the  cause  and  the  public.  Both 
are  given  up." — Jiinius's  last  letter  to  Wood/all,  19  Jan.,  1773. 

See  also,  the  commencement  of  letter  LIX.  —  Y.  G. 


996 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


rooted  precedent^  which  will  grow  up,  and  bear 
bitter  fruit. 

The  old  proverb  says,  one  may  see  light  thrmigh 
a  small  crevice ;  —  and  on  *  may  discern  more 
strongly  than  by  the  most  outrageous  clamour- 
ing, the  spirit  of  the  people  in  the  start  which 
they  took  about  the  proclamation.  Yet  it  is  a 
spirit  that  is  hide-bound. 

I  have  enclosed  a  letter  for  your  perusal.  I 
may  think  that  it  may  possibly  serve  some  views 
which  I  have  entertained ;  and  yet  you,  who  see 
and  know,  upon  the  spot,  what  one's  heart  could 
not  conceive,  may  know  that  it  can  do  no  ser- 
vice on  one  hand,  but  may  expose  me  to  the 
malice  and  ridicule  of  bad  men  on  the  other. 
Run  no  risks  for  me,  or  for  my  honour,  about  it,  — 
rather  burn  it  a  thousand  times  over  (if  that  can 
be),  rather  than  run  any  risque,  by  delivering  it, 
where  the  task  for  ever  is  —  out  of  good,  still  to 
find  means  of  evil. 


April  12.  —  If  there  be  a  temper  and  culture 
of  mind  to  receive  the  good  seed,  get  your  Brother 
to  deliver  it,  —  if  there  be  not,  or  even  a  doubt 
whether  there  be  or  not  —  burn  it. 

I  am  now  extremely  busy  in  preparing  to  bring 
forward  a  new  system  of  law  for  the  corn-trade. 
Our  circumstances  in  that  article  are  changed ; 
our  system  therefore  must  follow,  and  adapt 
itself  to  those  new  circumstances.     It  is  a  matter 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


297 


of  risque,^  and  great  hazard,  to  meddle  with  the 
operations  of  the  supply  of  a  country,  and  the 
commerce  of  the  supply  and  provisions.  It  is  in 
any  way  of  almost  infinite  import,  and  may  draw 
danger  in  its  consequences.  To-morrow  I  make 
my  motion.  I  do  not  know  any  which  I  ever 
engaged  in,  that  hung  with  so  much  dread  upon 
my  mind.  If  my  ideas  are  wrong  or  dangerous, 
I  hope  the  House  will  reject  them.  Adieu.  Let 
me  always  hear  from  you. 

I  am,  in  every  sense  of  love  and  esteem,  most 
affectionately,  Your  friend, 

T.    POWNALL, 

To  the  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper, 

Boston. 


LETTER   XXVI. 

London,  Albemarle  street,  April  10,  '72. 
Sir  :  —  From  various  hands,  and  through  va- 
rious channels,  I  have  heard,  that  you  had  con- 
ceived of  me,  and,  in  consequence  of  your  concep- 
tions, did  represent  me,  in  your  public  opinions, 
at  least  as  a  doubtful  friend  of  the  province. 
Under  what  spirit  such  conceptions  could  be  con- 


1  See  note,  ante,  p.  168. 


298 


JUNIUS   DISCOVERED. 


veyed  to,  and  could  enter  into  your  mind,  I  am 
unable  even  to  guess.  Judge  not  of  the  tree  by 
the  colouring  of  the  blossoms ;  wait  the  bearing 
time,  and  judge  by  the  fruits :  —  if  you  had  any 
doubts  then,  I  ask  of  the  candour  of  your  mind, 
and  of  the  honest  feelings  of  your  heart,  what 
you  think  now. 

However,  whatever  doubts  malicious  represen- 
tations might  have  raised  in  your  mind,  could 
any  temper  of  mind  less  than  that  sin  against  the 
holy  spirit  of  ti'uth,  that  temper  which  prevents 
the  mind  from  giving  its  assent  to  its  own  con- 
viction—  have  represented  me  as  an  enemy  to 
the  Province,  at  the  very  moment,  and  in  the  very 
action,  when  1  was  invariably  and  unremittedly 
labouring  to  defend  and  serve  its  interest  ? 

1  would  not  write  this  while  the  animosity  of 
parties  kept  the  temper  heated,  and  the  passions 
in  agitation ;  I  would  not  write  this  while  I  could 
suspect  even  myself  that  I  might  retain  the  least 
spirit  of  resentment.  But  now,  as  all  is  over  and 
past  some  years  agone :  —  wishing  to  stand  in  the 
eye  of  the  Province  as  I  know  I  deserve  to  stand, 
fair  and  well,  —  I  wish  you,  in  the  spirit  of  can- 
dour, and  with  your  own  genuine  honour,,  to  re- 
view the  whole  of  my  conduct,  from  the  first 
planting  of  me  amongst  you,  to  the  fruits  I  have 
borne.  I  never  belong  to  any  party  —  I  never 
wished  to  serve  any  party :  in  that  view,  there- 
fore, I  neither  claim,  nor  can  have  any  merit. 


JUNIXJS  DISCOVERED. 


299 


Attached  solely  to  the  true  interests  of  the  prov- 
ince, I  never  sought  to  flatter  —  nor  ever  did 
flatter  —  its  passions.  Whether  rightly  under- 
stood, or  misunderstood,  my  affections  will  con- 
tinue the  same :  and  I  shall  always  endeavour  to 
serve  the  Province,  and  its  inhabitants,  in  con- 
junction with  those  who  do  serve  it.  I  wish, 
with  all  my  heart,  you  may  find  yourself  con- 
vinced, that  this  is  true.  You  will  find  me,  at 
the  same  time,  to  be  truly,  Sir, 

Your  friend, 

T.    POWNALL. 

To  Saml.  Adams,  Esq., 

Boston.  • 


LETTER  XXVII. 


London,  April  2,  '74. 
Dear  Sir: ■'—I  have  not  of  late  found  either 
things  or  myself  in  such  a  situation  that  I  could 
write.  I  never  will  write  an  ostensible  letter,  and 
withhold  my  real  opinion.  I  have  therefore  been 
forced  to  be  silent,  as  to  my  correspondence  for 
some  time.  Yet,  do  not  think  that  my  friend- 
ship or  old  affections  have  been  weaned  from  the 
Province.  Although  I  cannot  write  all  that  I 
wish  to  say,  yet  I  cannot  wholly  refrain :  —  but 


300 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


all  that  I  can  at  present  go  to,  is  to  beg,  for  God's 
sake,  that  the  good  and  prudent  of  the  Province 
will  try  their  best  authority,  —  that  the  good 
sense  —  the  old  good  temper,  and  good  principles 
of  the  Province,  may  prevail  over  the  passions 
and  party  of  the  violent  and  heedless,  who  have 
well  nigh  ruined  the  town  of  Boston,  and  will 
ruin  the  Province.  I  know,  'though  the  stroke 
given  is  heavy  and  severe,  and  'though  the  arm 
of  Government,  raised,  threatens  more,  yet  it  is 
the  wish  of  every  good  man  here,  both  in  and  out 
of  Ministry,  to  remove  the  present  grievances, 
and  to  withhold  all  further  severity.  Nothing 
bul^imprudence  and  violence  on  the  part  of  your 
present  leaders  can  essentially  hurt  the  Province, 
—  such  will  certainly  do  so,  because  they  give 
grounds  and  plausible  reasons  to  justify  the 
measures  of  such  amongst  us,  who  mean  mis- 
chief, and  such  there  are  on  all  sides. 

Be  not  made  a  cat's-paw,  either  to  those  in 
America,  or  to  those  here,  whose  interest  may  be 
served  by  your  ruin.  May  He  who  disposes  of 
events,  dispose  your  hearts  to  what  is  right  for 
peace.     I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

T.    POWNALL 

The  Rev'd  Dr.  Cooper.  * 


APPENDIX. 


LIST  OF  GOVERNOR  POWNALL'S  WORKS. 


Principles  of  Polity ;  being  the  grounds  and  reasons  of 
Civil  Empire;  in  three  parts.    Lond.  1752,  4to. 

^^ <1ministration  of  the  Colonies;  wherein  their  rights  and 
constitution  are  discussed  and  stated.  Lond.  1764,  |vo. 
Between  that  year  and  1 768,  the  2nd  and  drd,  and  in  1 768, 
the  4th  editions,  were  published.  In  1 7  74,  the  5th  edition, 
with  additions,  was  published  in  2  vols.  8vo.,  under  the  title 
—  "  The  Administration  of  the  British  Colonies." 

Considerations  on  the  Indignity  suffered  by  the  Crown,  and 
dishonour  brought  upon  the  Nation,  by  the  marriage  of  H. 
R.  H.  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  with  an  English  subject. 
1772,  4to. 

The  right,  interest,  and  duty  of  the  State,  as  concerned  in  the 
Affairs  of  the  East  Indies.    London,  1773,  8vo. 

A  Pamphlet  on  the  high  price  of  Bread.    1774,  8 vo. 

Letter  to  Adam  Smith,  LL.  D.,  and  F.  R.  S.,  respecting  his 
Wealth  of  Nations.    1776,  4to.  ^ 

Drainage  and  Navigation,  but  one  united  work.    1776,  8vo. 

A  Topographical  description  of  a  Map  of  the  middle  British 
Colonies,  etc.,  in  North  America.    Lond.  1776,  fol. 

A  Treatise  on  the  study  of  Antiquities,  as  the  Commentary 
to  Historical  Learning,  sketching  out  a  general  line  of 
research,  also  making  and  explaining  some  of  the  desid' 
erata;  with  an  Appendix  on  the  Elements  of  Speech,  the 


302 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


Origin  of  written  Language,  the  Ships  and  Chariots  of  the 
Ancients.    Lond.  1 782,  8vo. 

A  Memorial,  most  humbly  addressed  to  the  Sovereigns  of 
Europe,  on  the  present  state  of  affairs,  between  the  Old 
and  New  World.  Printed  first  in  1 780,  and  fourth  edition, 
1784,  pp.  127,  8vo. 

A  Memorial,  in  two  parts,  originally  intended  to  be  presented 
to  the  King ;  since  published  with  an  explanatory  preface. 
Lond.  1784,  pp.  58,  8vo. 

A  Memorial,  addressed  to  the  Sovereigns  of  America.  Lond. 
printed  1783,  and  again  1784.    pp.  139,  8vo. 
The  above  three  Memorials,  with  a  General  Preface,  pp. 

20,  again  published  as  — 

Three  Memorials,  most  humbly  addressed  to  the  Sovereigns 
of  Europe,  Great  Britain,  and  North  America.  By  T. 
Pownall,  late  Grovernor,  Captain-General,  Commander-in- 
Chief,  Vice  Admiral,  etc.,  of  the  Provinces,  now  States,  of 
Massachusetts  Bay,  and  South  Carolina,  and  Lieutenant 
Governor  of  New-Jersey.    Lond.  1 784,  8vo. 

Hydraulic  and  Nautical  observations  on  the  Currents  in  the 
Atlantic  ocean,  forming  an  hypothetical  theorem  for  inves- 
tigation ;  to  which  are  annexed  some  notes  by  Dr.  Frank- 
lin, etc.    Lond.  1787,  4to. 

Proposals  for  founding  University  professorships  for  Archi- 
tecture, Painting  and  Sculpture.    1 786. 

Notices  and  Descriptions  of  the  Antiquities  of  Provincia  Ro- 
mana  of  Gaul ;  with  dissertations  on  the  subjects,  of  which 
there  are  examples;  and  an  Appendix,  describing  the 
Roman  Baths  and  Thermaa  discovered  in  1 784,  at  Baden- 
weiber.  Lond.  1788,  4to.  {Mem.  In  the  Gentleman's 
Magazine  for  April,  1808,  p.  338  et  seq.,  imder  the  head 
Literary  Intelligence,  is  the  following,  —  "Amongst  the 
works  of  which  all  the  unsold  copies  were  destroyed  by 
fire,  and  which  probably  will  never  be  printed,  are  .... 
Governor  Pownall's  Provincia  Eomana,  and  Antiquarian 
Homance.") 


APPENDIX. 


303 


An  Antiquarian  Romance ;  endeavoring  to  mark  a  line  by 
"which  the  most  ancient  people,  and  the  processions  of  the 
earliest  inhabitants  of  Europe  may  be  investigated.    Some 
remarks  on  Mr.  Whitaker's  criticisms  annexed.   1795, 8vo. 
Answer  to  a  Letter  on  the  Jutse  or  Viti.     1 786. 
Descriptions  and  Explanations  of  some  Remains  of  Roman 
Antiquities  dug  up  in  the  City  of  Bath  in  1 790 ;  with  an 
Engraving  from  drawings  made  on  the  spot.    Lond.  1795, 
4to. 
Considerations  on  the  scarcity  and  higb  prices  of  Bread  com 
and  Bread  at  the  markets,  suggesting  the  remedies ;  in  a 
series  of  Letters,  first  published  in  the  Cambridge  Chronr 
icle.     1795,  8vo. 
Character  of  Sir  Robert  Walpole,  written  in  1 783,  printed 
among  the  original  papers  in  Mr.  Coxe's  Memoirs  of  Lord 
Orford,  with  Lord  Orford's  two  letters  to  Governor  Pow- 
nall  —  (republished  in  Nicols's  Literary  Anecdotes,  vol.  iv. 
pp.  710-712). 
Intellectual  Physics;  an  Essay  concerning  the  Nature  of  Be- 
ing.   1803,  4to. 
Treatise  on  Old  Age : — 

Besides  several  papers  published  in  volumes — 11.  III.  V. 
VI.  VII.  VIII.  and  IX.,  of  the  Archceologia,  of  the  Society 
of  Antiquarians.  The  last  mentioned  volume  contains  a  pa- 
per, the  title  of  which  creates  a  suspicion  that  Grovemor  Pow- 
nall  was  o  Brother  of  the  Mystic  tie.  It  is  —  "  Observations 
on  the  origin  and  progress  of  Gothic  Architecture,  and  on 
the  Corporation  of  Free-masons,  supposed  to  be  the  establish- 
lishers  of  it  as  a  regular  order." 


304 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


(Referred  to  on  page  120  in  note.) 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  the  Right  lion.  George  Qrenville^  to 
Governor  Pownall ;  dated  Wotton,  July  17 th,  1768. 

I  am  very  sensible  of  the  honour  you  do  to  me,  both  in 
this,  and  in  the  Address  prefixed  to  the  former  editions  of 
your  treatise  upon  the  Administration  of  the  Colonies;  a'li 
am  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  expressions  of  your  regard 
and  good  opinion.  You  say,  very  truly,  in  the  beginning  of 
your  present  Address,  that  our  opinions  differed  on  several 
points :  but  we  agree  intirely  in  our  wishes,  that  the  consti- 
tutional powers  of  this  kingdom,  and  the  fixed  government  of 
the  laws  may  prevail,  and  the  rights  of  the  people  be  estab- 
lished upon  ti'ue  political  liberty. 

As  to  the  great  question  of  our  parliameut's  granting  to 
America  a  competent  number  of  members  to  sit  in  our 
House  of  Commons,  you  are  no  stranger  to  the  declarations 
I  repeatedly  made  in  the  House,  at  the  time  when  the  repeal 
of  the  stamp-act  was  agitated;  That,  if  such  an  application 
should  be  properly  made  by  the  Colonies  to  parliament,  in 
the  same  manner  as  those  which  were  made  from  Chester  and 
Durham,  and  probably  from  Wales,  it  would,  in  my  opinion, 
be  intitled  to  the  most  serious  and  favourable  consideration. 
I  continue  still  in  the  same  sentiments ;  but  lam  much  afraidj 
that  neither  the  people  of  Great  Britain,  nor  those  of  America, 
are  sufficiently  apprised  of  the  danger  which  threatens  both, 
from  the  present  state  of  things,  to  adopt  a  measure,  to  which 
both  the  one  and  the  other  seem  indisposed.  Some  of  the 
Colonies,  in  their  address  to  the  crown  against  some  late  acts 
of  parliament,  have,  if  I  mistake  not,  expressly  disdained  it ; 
and  I  do  not  think  it  has  been  kindly  received  in  Great 
Britain,  when  it  has  been  thrown  out  in  parliament,  or  started 
in  any  pamphlet  or  printed  paper.    The  fullest  conviction  of 


APPENDIX. 


305 


its  necessity,  and  the  heartiest  concurrence,  both  of  the  gov- 
ernment  and  of  the  people,  are  indispensably  necessary  to 
set  so  great  a  machine  in  motion,  as  that  of  uniting  all  the 
outlying  parts  of  the  British  dominions  into  one  system.—* 
For  my  own  part,  I  shall  wait  the  event  with  concern,  and 
shall  be  ready  to  give  any  assistance  I  can,  whenever  I  see 
any  practicable  road  opened  to  our  safety. 


(Referred  to  on  page  149.) 


Anonymous  Letter  to  the  Earl  of  Chatham,  extracted  from  the  4th  vot- 
ume  of  the  "  Correspondence  of  William  Pitt,  Earl  of  Chatham  ; 
edited  by  William  Stanhope  Taylor,  Esquire,  and  Captain  John 
Henry  Pringle,  Executors  of  his  son,  John,  Earl  of  Chatham,  and 
published  from  the  original  MSS,  in  their  possession : "  —  London, 
Murray,  1840. 

"Nov.  14, 1775. 

"My  Lord:  —  My  only  motive  for  interrupting  your 
Lordship's  retirement  is  a  real  anxiety  for  the  public  good ; 
and  though  I  have  not  the  honour  of  being  known  to  your 
Lordship,  yet  when  I  assure  you  that  I  am  equally  below  con- 
nection with  any  party,  and  above  dependence  upon  any,  I 
persuade  myself  you  will  indulge  the  request  of  a  man  who 
has  nothing  to  ask,  except  a  few  moments'  attention,  whilst 
he  expresses  a  wish,  perhaps  an  idle  one,  on  a  subject  which 
at  least  will  not  divert  your  thoughts  from  their  present  object. 

"  That  subject,  the  American  dispute,  is  now  arrived  at  a 
crisis,  which  makes  all  men  tremble,  many  despond.  A  vast 
majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  both  countries,  I  verily  believe, 
are  so  deeply  affected  with  the  fatal  prospect  now  before 
them,  that  they  passionately  long  for  reconciliation,  and  would 
think  it  cheaply  purchased  at  the  expense  of  large  conces- 

20 


306 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


sions.  How  to  accomplish  the  Mriahcs  of  those  majorities  is 
the  perplexing  difBculty.  My  Lord,  the  misfortune  is,  that 
parties  and  factions  prevail  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic. 
Reconciliation,  thou<;h  an  object  with  all  but  the  very  worst 
men,  is  but  a  secondary  object  to  any  party.  The  prevailing 
one  in  either  country  will  not  accede  to  terms  that  cither 
disgrace  or  dispossess  them :  the  opposition  in  either  country 
will  obstruct  all  terms  which  do  not  insure  victory  to  them. 
Punctilios,  too,  party  impediments  removed,  prevent  treaty. 

"My  Lord,  when  private  friends  disagree,  the  same  obsta- 
cles are  apt  to  occur;  the  same,  too,  in  the  dissensions  of  i<  >r- 
eign  powers.  In  both  these  cases,  how  is  it  that  difliculties 
of  every  sort  are  constantly  overcome,  but  by  the  intervention 
of  a  common  friend  ?  Suppose,  for  an  instant,  that,  in  the 
present  case,  such  a  character  could  be  found  to  exist :  ardu- 
ous as  his  task  must  be  admitted  to  be,  it  seems  to  me  far 
from  being  impracticable.  The  governing  parties  in  both 
countries  would  not  reject  terms  which  neither  endangered 
their  emoluments  nor  infringed  upon  their  honour ;  and  any 
terms  which  the  governing  parties  in  the  two  countries  would 
not  reject,  the  power  of  faction  would  struggle  in  vain  to  ob- 
struct. But  prudence  forbids  the  proposal  of  rejectionable 
terms ;  therefore  the  true  sentiments  of  the  prevailing  par- 
ties in  both  countries,  if.  unknown,  ought  previously  to  be 
discovered  by  the  common  friend.  Those  sentiments  are  to 
be  learnt  as  well  from  one  man  of  each  party,  properly  chosen, 
as  from  many ;  for  your  Lordship  knows  better  than  I  do, 
that  the  many  govern  not  themselves;  no,  not  even  their 
opinions. 

"  Now,  I  will  not  think  so  meanly  of  the  prevailing  party 
either  here  or  in  America,  as  to  imagine  that  there  is  want- 
ing one  man  of  each  description,  who  would  trust  a  common 
friend,  and  might  safely  be  trusted  by  such  an  one,  in  a  free 
communication  upon  the  subject  of  the  admissibility  of  terms, 
under  the  sanction  of  inviolable  secrecy.  That  common 
friend,  once  possessed  of  this  knowledge,  could  stand  in  need 


APPENDIX. 


307 


party 
want- 
)mmoii 
a  free 
terms, 
■tmmon 
need 


of  nothing  but  a  head  to  plan,  and  a  heart  to  undertake :  se- 
crecy still  bcin^  an  indispensable  requisite  till  the  instant  of 
execution,  to  secure  the  minds  of  the  people  from  being  pois- 
oned with  jealousies  and  suspicions  of  treachery  in  the  me- 
diator. 

'*  The  last  difficulty  that  occurs  is,  in  what  region  to  dis- 
cover this  common  friend.  Alas !  my  Lord,  Great  Britain 
and  America  know  no  foreign  power  that  can  assume  the 
name.  8ome  centuries  arc  past  since  superstition  might,  per- 
haps, have  sought  the  mimic  of  such  a  character  in  the  see  of 
Rome.  At  present,  as  fur  as  I  can  judge,  there  is  in  the  uni- 
verse one  only  individual  qualified  to  undertake  this  impor- 
tant oftice.  My  Lord,  I  mean  not  to  flatter  you  ;  I  disdain 
the  art;  —  but,  in  my  sincere  opinion,  that  individual  is  your 
Lordship.  The  dignity  and  splendour  which  surround  your 
name  raise  you  above  the  level  of  other  men.  Neither  of  the 
nations  has  forgotten  the  great  debt  they  both  owe  you. 
Both  acknowledge,  that,  above  all  men  living,  you  are  he  who 
is  most  deeply  interested  to  preserve  the  united  honour  and 
happiness  of  the  whole  empire.  Fortunate  it  is,  that  your 
long  retirement  renders  you,  in  appearance  as  well  as  reality, 
unconnected  with  the  men  and  the  measures,  the  adminis- 
trations and  the  oppositions  of  either  nation,  as  much  as  ii 
you  were  this  instant  descended  from  the  clouds.  This  con- 
stitutes you,  as  it  were,  an  independent  power,  and  doubles 
the  confidence  which  all  reposed  in  you  before.  Be  then, 
my  Lord,  the  guardian  angel  of  this  great  empire ;  decline 
not  the  honourabl<3  office  of  mediator  between  Great  Britain 
and  America ;  unite  the  two  countries  upon  a  basis  of  per- 
manent friendship,  without  regard  to  the  internal  factions  of 
either;  leaving  administrations  and  oppositions  undisturbed, 
to  fight,  as  they  have  fought  before,  their  little  battles  upon 
ground  less  perilous  to  this  great  community. 

"  "Were  I  addressing  a  man  who  could  be  moved  by  a  love 
of  office  or  desire  of  wealth,  I  am  aware  that  the  hajsard  ot 
failure  might  deter  him  from  the  enterprize,  more  forcibly 


308 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


than  tbe  prospect  of  success  could  urge  him  to  it,  gilded  as 
that  prospect  must  appear  to  any  one,  who  reflects  upon  the 
copious  streama  of  bounty  which  must  necessarily  flow  from 
the  gratitude  of  two  nations.  I  neither  hope  nor  apprehend 
any  thing  from  the  effect  of  such  considerations  on  your  mind. 
The  world,  as  well  as  I,  believe  you  destitute  of  the  passion 
of  fear,  as  well  as  of  the  appetite  of  gain ;  but,  unless  all  men 
are  deceived,  there  is  one  noble  passion,  against  which  your 
bosom  is  by  no  means  proof.  This  is  the  moment,  and  God 
only  knows  how  short  it  is,  that  solicits  gratification.  Lose 
not  the  luckiest  opportunity  that  ever  befell  the  most  fortu- 
nate lover  of  true  glory.  The  worst  that  can  follow  disap- 
pointment is  that  inward  satisfaction,  which  surpasses  every 
thing  extrinsic,  attended  by  the  silent  blessings  of  millions. 

"  The  consequence  of  success  I  will  not  attempt  to  describe 
—  for  it  will  prevent  calamities,  the  limits  of  which  no  imagi- 
nation can  trace ;  —  it  will  insure  blessings,  which  none  can 
estimate ;  —  and  the  happy  instrument  to  accomplish  this,  will 
be  a  private  individual,  naked  of  every  weapon,  whether  of 
war,  corruption,  or  superstition  —  a  character  not  the  less 
glorious,  because  it  is  absolutely  unparalleled  in  the  history 
of  the  world. 

"My  Lord,  it  is  with  shame  I  beg  your  indulgence  a  min- 
ute longer :  but  I  think  it  proper  to  inform  you  that  this  let- 
ter, and  the  subject  of  it,  is  known  to  one  man  alone  besides 
myself,  and  he  is  bound  to  secrecy  by  the  same  ties  that  I 
am.  To  satisfy  you  that  I  have  no  end  to  answer  beneficial 
to  myself,  I  not  only  refrain  from  subscribing  my  name,  but, 
whether  you  treat  this  letter  with  consideration,  or  yrhether 
you  treat  it  with  contempt,  I  promise  you,  upon  the  word  of 
a  gentleman,  that  I  will  never  divulge  my  name  to  you,  or  the 
contents  of  this  letter  to  any  other  person,  without  your  re- 
quest, To  convince  you,  at  the  same  time,  that  I  mean  noth- 
ing prejudicial  to  any  man,  I  promise  you,  under  the  same 
sanction,  that  I  will  disclose  myself  to  your  Lordship,  if  ever 
you  should  think  fit  to  require  it,  by  a  letter  directed  to  A. 


APPENDIX. 


309 


Z.,  at  Oliver's  coffee-house,  Westminster-hall  gate.    If  your 
eye  reaches  this  place,  I  return  your  Lordship  a  thousand 
thanks  for  your  patience,  and  am,  with  the  truest  respect, 
Your  Lordship's  most  obedient, 

and  most  faithful  servant." 


To  this  letter  the  Editors  of  the  Chatham  Correspondence 
add  the  following  note :  — 

"  By  the  following  note,  of  the  1 7th,  in  the  same  hand- 
writing, it  will  be  seen  that  Lord  Chatham  returned  an 
answer  t<>  the  above  remarkable  letter." 

"Nov'r  17th,  1775. 

"  The  author  of  the  letter  of  the  14th  was  far  from  intend- 
ing to  trouble  again  the  writer  of  the  note  of  the  16th,  even 
with  the  acknowledgments  that  were  due,  for  the  very  high, 
though  unmerited  honour  done  to  him  by  that  note ;  but  as 
the  mistake  of  a  letter  in  the  direction  of  it  (Q  instead  of  Z) 
may  possibly  be  recollected,  and  create  a  suspicion  of  its  hav- 
ing fallen  into  wrong  hands,  he  presumes  that  he  will  be  par- 
doned the  liberty  of  giving  this  assurance,  that  it  was  received 
by  the  person  for  whom  it  was  intended,  and  that  the  injunc- 
tion of  secrecy  will  be  religiously  observed.  It  neither  has  nor 
shall  be  imparted,  even  to  the  single  friend  who  was  privy 
to  the  letter,  as  the  injunction  is  understood  to  that  extent 
The  writer  of  this  cannot  help  adding,  that  the  reception  of 
his  sincere  endeavours  as  they  were  meant,  would  indeed 
have  made  him  truly  happy,  had  the  account  of  it  not  been 
embittered  with  more  just  cause  of  sorrow.  However,  he, 
too,  indulges  the  most  sanguine  hopes,  that  the  invaluable 
blessing,  which  is  for  the  present  withheld,  will  quickly  be 
restored  to  this  country  and  its  friends." 


310 


JUNIUS  DISCOVERED. 


EPITAPH; 

(llcferred  to  on  page  168.) 

Here  is  entombed  Dame  Harriet, 

daughter  of  Lieut't  General  Churchill ; 

wife,  in  her  first  marriage,  to  Sir  Everard  Fawkner,  kn't ; 

in  her  second,  to  Governor  Pownall. 

She  died  Feb.  6,  1777,  aged  51. 

Her  person  "was  that  of  animating  beauty,  with  a  complexion 

of  the  most  exquisite  brilliancy,  unfaded  when  she  fell. 
Her  understanding  was  of  such  quickness  and  reach  of 
thought,  that  her  knowledge,  although  she  had  learning,  was 
instantaneous  and  original.  Her  heart,  warmed  with  univer- 
sal benevolence  to  the  highest  degree  of  sensibility,  had  a 
ready  tear  for  pity,  and  glowed  with  friendship  as  with  a  sa- 
cred and  inviolate  fire.  Her  love,  to  those  who  were  blessed 
with  it,  was  happiness.  Her  sentiments  were  correct,  refined, 
elevated.  Her  manner  so  chearful,  elegant,  amiable,  and 
winning,  that,  while  she  was  admired,  she  was  beloved ;  and, 
while  she  enlightened  and  enlivened,  she  was  the  delight  of 
the  world  in  which  she  lived.  She  was  formed  for  life ;  she 
was  prepared  for  death ;  which  being  a  gentle  wafting  to  im- 
mortality, she  lives  where  life  is  real. 


EERATA, 


P.  186, 1.  18,  dele  the  "  after— Earl! 

To  the  note  on  p.  112,  add,  —  and  Junius  says,  —  "  no  outward 
tyranny  can  reach  the  mind."  —  Letter  xxvii,  v.  ii,  16. 

To  the  note  on  p.  278,  add,  —In  vol.  2,  p.  297,  Letter  LXIV., 
—  "But  the  question  does  not  It/e  between  rich  and  poor." 


i 


